Local in rough ground throughout much of southern England, with records north to Cheshire. Under-recorded in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight, where the extent of known records correlate with those areas in which the recording effort is concentrated, and probably present wherever the foodplants occurs regularly. Wingspan 10-17 mm. Distinguished from
C. flaviciliana by the darker median fascia of the forewing and the presence of a subapical line in the cilia; the presence of the subapical line also separates this species from
Falseuncaria degreyana [Bradley]. Larva feeds within seedheads of Wild Teasel.