Local in broad-leaved, especially birch, woodland and heathland throughout England and Wales. In Hampshire the population is centred in the extreme south-eastern corner of vice-county 12 (north Hampshire), with scattered records in south Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 35-38 mm. The main confusion species is
Common Lutestring Ochropacha duplaris, which differs, for example, in the small apical dash, which originates at the apex in Common Lutestring, and some way down the costa in Satin Lutestring. Larva feeds on Silver and Downy Birch, over-wintering as a pupa.