Local on sea cliffs, sand-dunes and shingle beaches along the coasts of western Wales and southern England from Somerset to Kent, and inland, on calcareous grassland, in England and more rarely in Ireland and Scotland, a species of conservation concern under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight remains fairly common on the coast, but is now very rare inland, on the chalk. Wingspan 28-32 mm. The most likely confusion species is
Common Carpet E. alternata, but can also be confused with
Large Twin-spot Carpet Xanthorhoe quadrifasiata, with which shares concave costa. Larva feeds on Lady's Bedstraw, Hedge Bedstraw and Heath Bedstraw, over-wintering as a pupa.