Nationally scarce (Nb) in woodland and heathland throughout much of the British Isles, less numerous in the south. In Hampshire there have been very few records of this species, reported from Romsey, Roydon Woods, Pennington and Merritown Heath in the current decade. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 14-20 mm. Similar to
A. turbidana but slightly smaller and with a narrower forewing; it differs further by the straighter and less strongly indented outer edge of the median fascia, the darker apex and cilia and by the lighter hindwing [Bradley]. Larva feeds on Birch, living between leaves spun together with silk, over-wintering as a pupa.