A very common species throughout Belgium, sometimes as a pest in orchards.

The larva lives on a great variety of trees and shrubs, also on Calluna. Around a hundred different foodplants are known. Hibernates as egg.

The adults fly from late October till end of December, but occasionally can be seen till February. The beginning and end of the flight period changes from year to year and is depending on weather conditions. During frost, the males doesn't fly and they just sit still on tree trunks, mainly on Oak. Males come to light, females are brachypterous.