A rare and local species in Belgium. Rarely recorded.

The larva lives inside the seed-heads of Cirsium vulgare and hollows out a large cavity therein. It hibernates in a tough brown cocoon on the ground amongst debris.

The adults fly in one generation a year; during July and August. They are active from dusk onwards and later come to light.

ID: All Phycitodes are difficult and examination by genetalia is advised, but following aids can help; size individual, place of black dots, intensity and size of markings and the angle of the three dots on the first line. This species is the easiest to identify; it's the most robust and most strongly marked and the three dots are well-developed and characteristically placed.