The wingspan is 11–14 mm. Coleophora species have narrow blunt to pointed forewings and a weakly defined tornus. The hindwings are narrow-elongate and very long-fringed. The upper surfaces have neither a discal spot nor transverse lines. Each abdomen segment of the abdomen has paired patches of tiny spines which show through the scales. The resting position is horizontal with the front end raised and the cilia give the hind tip a frayed and upturned look if the wings are rolled around the body. C. pyrrhulipennella characteristics include head light bronzy-grey, whitish-mixed. Antennae white, ringed with fuscous, basal joint with light ochreous-greyish tuft. Forewings brownish-ochreous, lighter dorsally ; a costal streak, one in disc from middle, one along fold, and one along dorsum shining white. Hindwings grey.[1] Only reliably identified by dissection and microscopic examination of the genitalia.
The larvae feed on heather (Calluna vulgaris), tree heath (Erica arborea), bell heather (Erica cinerea), Erica manipuliflora and crossed-leaf heath (Erica tetralix). They create a shining black, bivalved sheath case of about 9 mm long with a mouth angle of about 20°.[3] Full-grown larvae can be found in mid May. The pupa is formed in the larval case, which is attached to the tip of a shoot.
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