Local in hedgerows, woodland edges, scrub and gardens throughout much of the British Isles, but not in northern Scotland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight local and evidently rather uncommon, with the majority of records in the south-east of the county, perhaps overlooked elsewhere. Wingspan 12-14 mm. Distinctive combination of bright yellow head and raised scale tufts one-third and two-thirds of the way along the forewing. Larva feeds within bark of Hawthorn and Midland Hawthorn, over-wintering as a pupa.