Notes:
Nationally scarce (Nb) in dry pastures, heathland and fens in parts of England and south-western Ireland. In Hampshire very local on the chalk around Winchester between the Itchen and Test valleys, also recorded from Oxenbourne Down and a few locations on the coast and in the north of the county. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 13-17 mm. In some respects reminiscent of a small P. rugosana but at once distinguished by the conspicuous ferruginous-red apical spot and the generally white basal area of the forewing; the dappled hindwing distinguishes this species from Hysterophora maculosana [Bradley]. Larva feeds within berries of Buckthorn.
