Wingspan 18–22 mm. A plain looking moth, usually with a distinct yellowish suffusion around the head and the base of the forewings.

In males, the thorn at the tip of the aedeagus is at 90 degrees to the body and situated on the convex side where curvature is noted. An additional thorn on the same side may be present at halfway. In the case of Z. unitana the thorn at the tip is at 45 degrees to the body and usually on the concave side when present.

The young larva feeds on upper parenchyma spinning two leaves together and construct a small web. This is later enlarged to form a tube about 10 cm long.
The larva feeds on flowers and leaves of the food plant and hibernates in spun leaves near the ground.
The moths can be flushed from low vegetation by day. They become active from dusk onwards and later come to light.

The larva feeds on numerous plants like Carduus, Centaurea, Cirsium, Heracleum, Plantago, Ranunculus, Vaccinium, Quercus etc...

It inhabits waste ground, grassland, fens, heathland, scrub and dampish areas.