Common in gardens, farmland, hedgerows and woodland, and on roadside verges and sand-dunes throughout the British Isles; widespread and reasonably common in Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight. Wingspan 30-40 mm. The main confusion species is
Campion H. rivularis, which often has a purple hue when freshly emerged; on Lychnis the upper stigmata are usually clearly apart dorsally, and subterminal line joins dorsum at an angle of about 45°, clearly inclined to and almost parallel with termen (MBGBI Vol 9). Larva feeds on seeds of White Campion, Red Campion and Sweet-William, over-wintering as a pupa.