Local in reed-beds and fens throughout much of England and Wales. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight common in extensive reed-beds, mostly on the coast, and an occasional wanderer elsewhere, with only a few records from northern Hampshire, at Leckford, Fleet Pond and Old Basing. Wingspan male 24-32 mm, female 30-40 mm. Males are unmistakable; females could be confused with female Schoenobiinae, but in those species the costa is convex towards apex, whereas in C. phragmitella it is distinctly concave [Goater]. Larva feeds within stems of Common Reed and Reed Sweet-grass.