The wingspan is 4.4–5.2 millimetres (0.17–0.20 in).A small, dark bronze-coloured moth. The antennae are filamentous, dark and about half as long as the forewing. The innermost, greatly expanded joint is white. The head is yellow-haired, the body dark except for a white "collar" just behind the head. The forewings are glistening, dark bronze-brown with a rather narrow, silvery-white transverse band at about two-thirds of the wing. The hind wing is narrow, grey, with long fringes. The species is very similar to several other Stigmella species, but the white collar can be a good characteristic of this species.To be cetain requires microscopic examination of the genitalia.[2] Meyrick - The head is ochreous-yellowish or orange, collar yellow -whitish. Antennal eyecaps yellow whitish. Forewings bronze-fuscous, sometimes purplish-tinged a narrow whitish fascia beyond middle; apical area beyond this dark purplish-fuscous. Hindwings light grey.[3][4]
Adults are on wing in May. There are two generations per year.
^Zagulajev, A.K., 1987 Nepticulidae (Stigmellidae); in G.S. Medvedev (ed.): Keys to the insects of the europaean part of the USSR, Vol.IV: Lepidoptera, part 1 (english translation), Oxonian Press Pvt.Ltd., New Dehli, 1987
^Meyrick, E., 1895 A Handbook of British Lepidoptera MacMillan, London
