A migrant species in Belgium, recently arrived (2004). It is well distributed in subtropical and tropical areas all over the world.

The larva lives in Beta vulgaris, Trianthema postulacastrum, Celosia sp., Chenopodium sp., Portulaca sp., and Amaranthus sp. The life-cycle is short: egg less than a week, larva 3 weeks and pupa 1 week. The species is a pest in beet plantations.

The adults have mainly been observed in May.