Wingspan 8–14 mm. Resembles Cydia conicolana but with distinct, white transverse bands on the forewing.
Brownish grey forewings with the scales tipped with deep golden yellow resulting in a peppered effect which is weak or absent at the base and become stronger towards the termen, especially in the ocellus which has strong black longitudinal stripes.
There are five strong white strigulae on the costa. The first subtends a silver and white fascia reaches to the dorsum which is angled at 110 degrees mid-wing. The second subtends a silver and white fascia, skirting the ocellus to reach the tornus. The fourth spot fascia is broken before skirting the ocellus and the fifth is weak and skirts the apex with a silvery white mark on the termen.

The caterpillar is almost white yellowish with a light brown head, prothoracic plate yellowish brown and a tiny anal plate.

The larva lives in resin-exuding bark wounds and in galls and resinous nodules on the bark. Hibernates as a larva.
The adults are active during hot weather around midday and afternoon. They come irregularly to light.

The larva feeds on Pinus sylvestris, Pinus mugo and Pinus nigra. Also reported on Picea abies but whether this is correct remains unclear. They also have been found in old galls of the tortrix Retinia resinella and of pyralid Dioryctria abietella.

It inhabits coniferous plantations and woods.