Black-tipped Ermine

The wingspan of Yponomeuta plumbella ranges from 16 to 20 millimeters. In the imago the fore wings are white punctuated with three rows of very small black spots (hence the family name of ermine moths) while the hindwings are greyish. These moths are clearly distinguished from related species by the larger black splotch in the middle of the inner rim of the forewing and the black marking at the tip of the forewing. The legs and the long antennae are white. The larvae are straw-yellow in the first instar, with black spots on the sides. The head is yellow. At the end of its development, the caterpillar can reach a length of 18–20 millimetres (0.71–0.79 in).