S. tipuliformis is a relatively small species (11–20 mm) that can fairly easy be recognised by the orange-ochreous scales between the veins in the apical area of the forewing and the well developed external transparent area being higher than broad and consisting of 5 cells. This species also has well defined yellow bands on the abdomen: 4 bands in the male and 3 bands in the female. The proboscis is, as in all species of this genus, well developed and functional.
The males are very well attracted to the pheromone developed for this species and are best lured in the afternoon but, as always, the optimal time span is very weather dependent.

The eggs are elliptically shaped and brown.

The larva is off-white, has a brown head and a yellow-brown prothoracic shield. As in all Sesiidae, the prolegs have a double wreath of small hooks.

The larva constructs a gallery, ranging from only a few centimetres to about 20 cm, in the centre of a twig. The inside of this gallery very often turns black.

The caterpillar pupates in a loosely woven cocoon. The pupa is bright yellow-brown.

The development of this species only takes one year and hence, the larva hibernates only once. The female oviposits on the twigs of the hostplant, preferring two year old ones. The pupation takes place in late spring in a loosely woven cocoon and after the larva prepared an exit hole at the side of the twig leaving only a thin membrane from the outer wall of the sprig. The exclusively day-active imagos are regularly observed sunbathing on the leaves of the hostplant.
The males are very well attracted to the pheromone developed for this species and are best lured in the afternoon but the optimal time span is very weather dependent.

The larva bores into the branches of Ribes, mainly Ribes rubrum and Ribes nigrum but also other species of this genus. So far no larvae have been observed in wild species of Ribes. Rarely –and apparently also locally and not in Belgium– S. tipuliformis caterpillars were found in Euonymus europaeus.