Wingspan 10–12 mm. Ground colour blackish brown mixed with yellowish scales. No yellow radial lines like in most of the other Nemophora species. Head black in the male, ochreous in the female. The eyes of the male are much enlarged. Antennae in the male blackish only at their base, white till the tip. Antennae of the female much shorter, as long as forewing, basal half thickened with black scales, proximal half white.

Greenish yellow, head and prothoracic plate dark brown, almost black, meso- and metathoracic plates only a little darker than the abdominal segments.

Made by hollowing a needle of Abies alba; rounded at both sides, 7–8 mm.

The caterpillar lives inside a needle of Abies alba from which it first eats the contents. It looks for a fresh green needle fallen on the ground between the other brown needles. It never changes to another needle. It hibernates inside the needle and continues to feed in springtime. Pupation in May.
The moths are active during the daytime but occasionally also come to light.

The caterpillar lives inside a needle of Abies alba. It also consumes detritus on the forest floor.

Pine forest of mixed forests with a lot of pine trees, preferably in cool and wet habitats.