Nationally scarce (Na) on chalk and limestone grassland and roadside verges, and in hedgerows and woodland, from Kent to Cornwall in the south of England, and from the west Midlands to Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire in the north (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). In Hampshire very local on the chalk around Winchester, where it occurs in both mainland vice-counties. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 16-20 mm. May be separated from
D. chaerophylli by the persistence of the reddish brown coloration of forewing along most of the length of the costa and the absence of black spotting along the termen; from
D. depressana which has no black markings on the forewing (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). Larva feeds on young leaves of Burnet-saxifrage, on chalk and limestone grassland, and Greater Burnet-saxifrage, along roadsides, hedgerows and in woodland, subsequently feeding on the flowerheads.