Local in oak and other deciduous woodland and areas with scattered oak-trees throughout most of the British Isles, but not in northern Scotland. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widely distributed and fairly common. Wingspan 19-22 mm. A greyer species than
Conobathra repandana or
C. tumidana, differing particularly in the greyer basal area of the forewing, which is distinctly reddish in the
Conobathra, although in some parts of the country, the median and outer parts of the wing are purplish or crimson, the basal area is always grey [Goater]. Larva feeds on Oak, living gregariously within spun or rolled leaves.