Davey, P., 2009: A species found throughout Britain, the larva feeding on a wide variety of herbaceous plants. In Dorset, the moth is common on unimproved grassland, on farmland transitioning from improved arable to unimproved grassland such as 'set-aside' land on chalky soils, in river valleys and in gardens well stocked with herbaceous plants. The moth is infrequent on dry acid soils where herbaceous plants are scarce. None of the extreme varieties that are occasionally noted elsewhere in the UK have been recorded in Dorset. The following light trap records refer to potential second brood individuals: Puddletown, on 1 October 2000 (H Wood Homer), Gaunts Common, on 28 October 1995 (P Davey).

Recorded in 39 (98%) of 40 10k Squares.
First Recorded in 1895.
Last Recorded in 2019.
(Data up to end 2019)