Common in upland grassland, moorland and downland throughout much of the British Isles. In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight widespread but usually rather uncommon in grassy places in marshes and on heaths, chalk downs and commons. Some of its favoured habitat has been lost and many of the locations shown on the map refer to single specimens and has decreased alarmingly in the last twenty years. Wingspan male 27-32 mm, female 35-39 mm. Larva feeds on various grasses, including Sheep's-fescue, Mat-grass and Purple Moor-grass, over-wintering as an egg.