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Adults are small and round bodied (1-2 mm in length) with red-brown legs and dark bodies covered in white scales (Blatchley and Leng 1916). The proboscis is long and curved with small bent antennae at the proximal end. When disturbed, it displays the interesting behavior of folding its legs and proboscis against its body to make it look like a small dark pebble. Similar in appearance to its co-generic C. obstrictus it can be differentiated by its smaller size and dark body color.

Single small ovoid eggs are laid into distal ends of developing flixweed (Descurainia sp.) pods. Larvae feed within pods, consuming seeds and moving proximally. When mature larvae bore a hole in the pod, drop to the ground and encase themselves in soil to pupate. Adults emerge and feed on surrounding host plants to build up food reserves for overwintering (Dosdall et al. 1999).

Larvae feed on seeds within pods of flixweed (Descurainia sp.). Adults feed on pods and flowers of flixweed as well as northern march yellow cress (Rorippa islandica) and canola (Brassica napus, Brassica napa) (Dosdall et al. 1999).