This species was rather common throughout Belgium, but nowadays it is a rare appearance.

The larva lives on a variety of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees like Sanguisorba minor, Dipsacus, Artemisia vulgaris, Eschscholzia californica, Prunus spinosa and also Salix. Hibernates as an egg. Pupation in a cocoon among plant debris or underground.

The adults fly in one generation a year; from early July till late September. They come to light and sugar.