A recent arrival (2007) in Belgium.

The distinctive dark grey monophagous larva lives in a blotch mine in the leaves on Betula. It starts near the leaf margin with a short corridor and expands later in a blotch. Mature larvae leave the mine and pupate in the ground in a tough silken cocoon.

The adults fly from mid March tilll late April or beginning of May. They can be observed resting on the twigs and leaves of the food plant or flying around the trees in sunshine. Later they occasionally come to light.