Used to be a rare and local species, nowadays it's uncommon. In some area's in the provinces of Antwerp and Limburg, the species is locally common.

When young, the larva mines mainly the leaves or the stem of Sparganium or Nuphar lutea. It hibernates. Later it lives amongst spun leaves just below the surface of the water. Pupation in a white silk cocoon attached to the foodplant at or just below the water-level.

The adults fly from late April till early September. They are active at dusk and come to light.