Local in woodland, scrub, hedgerows and fens in southern England and south Wales, north to Cumbria; widely distributed in most of Hampshire, but largely absent from the New Forest, where the foodplant does not grow, and known on the Isle of Wight only from the area around Cranmore. Wingspan 26-32 mm. A nondescript, rather plain, light brown moth, with numerous faint, dentate cross-lines; outer edge of forewing and, especially, hindwing scalloped. Larva feeds on Buckthorn, over-wintering as an egg.