S. culiciformis is a medium-sized species (wingspan 20–28 mm) and is black with a red band on the abdomen. This species is often confused with S. myopaeformis although there are some clear morphological differences. In S. culiciformis the base of the wings is always somewhat orange, but black in S. myopaeformis. The colour of the underside of the palps gives another unmistakable characteristic: it is clear orange in S. culiciformis and white (in males) or black (in females) in S. myopaeformis.

The larva is off-white with a brown neck-shield

The larva makes mines in the sap-rich region between bark and wood. If living in a cut tree, a gallery is sometimes gnawed in the wood itself where, at the end, the cocoon is constructed. In these cases the imago emerges from the wood itself instead of between the bark and wood, which is more usual.

The cocoon is constructed between wood and bark or, in case of a cut tree trunk, sometimes in the wood itself at the end of a gallery. The cocoon has a very typical and unique construction with wood splinters and a funnel-shaped structure at the top.

The female deposits the eggs near damaged places on the tree. Very often this is a cut Betula tree that was felled one or at most two or three years before. In any case, the tree must still be alive. Trees that were already old when they were felled are apparently less attractive. Eggs are also laid on cancerous swellings on Betula and also on young Betula or Alnus trees.
The caterpillar lives, feeding on the sap-stream, between bark and wood and constructs already a cocoon in autumn. Consequently, this species completes its development in one year (in Belgium). The cocoon is usually built between wood and bark, whence the imago will emerge. When a larval gallery has extended into the wood itself, emergence takes place at the side of the trunk or often even at the cut surface.
In young trees, both Betula and Alnus, the caterpillar lives closer to the root in the centre of the stem.

The larva bores into the stem of Betula, sometimes also in Alnus.

S. culiciformis can be found in heathland biotopes, at forest edges and clearings but also along roads. The species is most common in places where Betula trees have been felled recently or where there are plenty of small young birch trees.