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Adults are 2-2.5mm, dorsally flat, elongate oval, black and have enlarged hind femurs. Each elytron has a distinctive pale yellow stripe that is wavy along its outside margin and curves towards the middle near the ends of the elytra. The 5th antennal segments of males are enlarged (Balsbaugh and Hays 1972). Unlike P. robusta, the yellow stripes do not reach the posterior elytral margins (Burgess 1977).

One generation per year. Two generations per year possible in portions of range. Adults overwinter in soil, turf or leaf near shelterbelts, hedges and fencerows. These emerge in spring to feed on foliage. In spring, 1-4 eggs are deposited near the bases of host plants. Eggs are about 0.4mm long by 0.2 mm wide, oval and light yellow. Mature larvae are approximately 3mm, white to very light brown with a copper-brown head and anal plate and are slender with small legs. Larvae feed on roots and root hairs and pupate in soil. These emerge as adults late summer (Burgess 1977).

Native to Eurasia, it can be found from Northern Reaches of Western Europe in the West and Russia to Indonesia in the East and is common in brassicaceous oilseed production areas. Occurs across North America from Alaska to California in the west and from Quebec to Florida in the east (Bousquet 1991, Anonymous 1994). In the Canadian Prairie Provinces it is more abundant and of greater economic importance in northern reaches of the brassicaceous oilseed production region, particularly the Peace Lowland Ecoregion of Alberta.