Larvae are white and up to 15 mm long. Larvae mine the plant stem or roots, usually pupating within stems. In Europe, this species overwinters either as larvae or as pupae. Adults emerge from late spring and lay eggs on spurge plants. Adults are dark brown with yellow-white bands. Wingspans are typically 15–22 mm. Each wing is brown with yellow markings and a few transparent windows with dark margins. Body and wing tips are fringed. There is one generation per year.