Wingspan 14–22 mm. Forewings are grey with silvery striations. The ocellus is dark purplish brown and is edged with metallic gold or copper scales. Hindwings are grayish brown.

Laid singly, or rarely in groups of two or three on fruits, stems, or leaves of the host. The flat and pinhead sized eggs are oval and translucent when first deposited. Later on they turn white.

Very young larvae are white with black heads. Mature larvae grow up to 16-20 mm long with a pale pink to reddish colour. Head mottled brown and prothoracic plate & anal shield with distinctive mottled pattern.

The silk cocoon is spun under the bark or in cracks of the host-tree.

The eggs are laid singly on fruit or on the upper surface of nearby leaves. Young larvae bore into the fruit within 24 hours after hatching and then tunnel towards the core where they feed on the developing seeds of especially Malus and Pyrus trees.
Larval damage to fruit is characterized by entry and exit holes, rot that surrounds larval feeding areas, and frass accumulation.
The caterpillars hibernate full-grown in a silk cocoon under the bark of the tree-trunk or in leaf litter where the pupation takes place the following spring.
The adult moths become active at dusk and are attracted to light.

The caterpillars live mainly in the fruits of Malus spp. and Pyrus spp. but can also be found on a variety of other trees.

The typical habitat is in orchards or wherever solitary apple trees are found.