Wingspan 12–17 mm. Can be very similar to Spilonota laricana. Specimens with an ochreous tinge to the ground colour should be S.ocellana.
A quite variable species in density and colour of the markings, this moth can usually be identified by the well-defined darker basal patch and the small blackish triangular blotch on each forewing, forming a diamond shape when at rest.

Eggs laid one by one or in groups of 3-5, they are oval, flattened, transparent and shiny. They develop within 8 to 12 days.

Larvae of first instar yellow-green or light yellow. Later instars reddish brown body with more or less clear pale spots, which can also be missing, the head and neck shield are black, the anal shield is lighter or darker brown.

See also bladmineerders.be

Lenght 7–10 mm, light brown with blunt rounded apex and eight thin hooked apical setae. The pupal stage lasts 9-15 days.

The larva feeds at first on the underside of a leaf, living in an open-ended silken tube. Overwinters as an early instar in a silken hibernaculum on a twig, branch or bud. In spring the larva eats into leaf and flower buds causing them to wither, later feeds in an untidy spinning of several leaves.
The adults come to light.

The ployphagous larva lives on different species of deciduous trees and shrubs like Malus, Sorbus, Prunus, Pyrus, Cydonia, Crataegus, Pyracantha, Chaenomeles speciosa, Rubus, Betula, Carpinus, Alnus, Salix, Myrica gale, Hippophae rhamnoides, Quercus, Acer, Juglans, Rhus, Berberis vulgaris, Erica tetralix, Vaccinium myrtillus, Vaccinium uliginosum, Vaccinium vitis-idaea and Kalmia.
This is a polyphagous pest of rosaceous fruit trees and forest species.

It inhabits open woodland, hedgerows, orchards, parks, gardens and larch plantations.