A very common species throughout Belgium.

The larva lives on different species of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees like Berberis vulgaris, Urtica, Hupulus humulus, Centranthus ruber, Rumex, Rubus, Corylus, Betula and Quercus. Hibernates as a larva or as a pupa.

The adults fly in at least two overlapping generations a year, mainly from May till October, but they have been seen frequently outside this period. They come to light and sugar.