Forewing ground colour brownish, mixed with dispersed white scales. A conspicuous dark brown to black vertical line at 2/3 of the forewing; female with very reduced wings and a large abdomen.

Pale green; head capsule black, prothoracic plate greenish brown, darker posteriorly; last abdominal segment greenish, speckled with blackish dots.

The egg is oviposited in a leaf axil, under bud scales, or behind the loose bark of many species of woody plants.
The caterpillar lives between two leaves spun together. Its development is very slow, similar to that of Diurnea fagella. It has been found from May till September.
The species hibernates in the pupal stage from September till April. Pupation amongst detritus.
The males fly in sunshine around noon on warm days and assemble to females. The females have very short wings and are unable to fly. They rest on branches and trunks of trees.

Polyphagous. The caterpillar has been recorded from various plants, like Acer, Alnus, Berberis vulgaris, Betula, Cornus mas, Crataegus, Filipendula ulmaria, Hippophae rhamnoides, Malus, Myrica gale, Potentilla anserina, Prunus, Pyrus, Quercus, Rhododendron, Thamnus catharticus, Rosa, Rubus fruticosus, Salix, Tilia, and Vaccinium myrtillus. It has a preference for Populus and Salix species.

Deciduous and mixed forests with many open places, with a preference for riparian forests. Also in heathlands, gardens, abandoned orchards.