The forewing ground colour is greyish with many small, inconspicuous, whitish striae along the costa; and some brown spots near the inner margin. Identification is difficult without knowledge of the larval hostplant, because of the close resemblance with other Parornix species, without the study of its genitalia.

Greenish yellow to green with light brown head capsule; a row of four dark brown spots on the thoracic plates, the two inner ones clearly larger than the two outer ones.

At first starting with a small blotch, most often in a vein axil on the underside of a leaf. Silk is applied in the mine but does not contort it leaving the mine flat. The blackish frass is contained in the basal corner of the mine which at the opposite side ends with two square angles.
See also gracillariidae.net and bladmineerders.be.

During the free-living stages, the caterpillar folds a leaf margin downwards and feeds under the fold. It never makes a leaf roll as in some other Parornix species.
Pupation within the leaf fold, among leaf litter on the ground. The species hibernates in the pupal stage
The adults rest during the daytime in the foliage; they are active at dusk and during the night and come to light.

The larvae feed exclusively on Carpinus betulus.