Immigrant from southern Europe, appearing in the south, in some years in good numbers, for example, in 1953 when a minimum of 40 were recorded, in 1968 when there were at least 30, and more recently in 2006 and 2009. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight benefited from small influxes in 1953 and to a lesser extent in 1968, it has become virtually annual in the 2000s, with 2011 seeing 32 records of 45 individuals across the two counties. Wingspan 16-18 mm. The most likely confusion species are
Purple Marbled E. ostrina and
Scarce Marbled E. minutata, which see for differences. Larva feeds on flowers of Common Fleabane and Ploughman's-spikenard, unable to over-winter in significant numbers.