A rather common species throughout Belgium.

The larva lives on a variety of  herbaceous plants and other low-growing plants including Urtica dioica, Lamium and Origanum vulgare. Hibernates as a small larva, near the ground among vegetation. Pupates in a loose cocoon spun under or near a leaf of the food plant.

The adults fly in two different generations, sometimes three, from mid May till end of September. They are active from dusk onwards and later come to light and rarely to sugar.