Local in flower meadows and chalk grassland in Britain, from Kent to Cornwall along the south coast and less frequently in the Midlands, Wales and northern England; more frequent throughout most of Scotland; also in western Ireland (MBGBI Vol 4 part 1). In Hampshire and on the Isle of Wight there are sparse records from all three vice-counties, though no recent ones from the Island. Wingspan 15-19 mm. Can usually be separated from
D. douglasella by the angle made by the pale fascia on the forewing which is obtusely angled in the latter and forms a right-angle in
D. pulcherrimella. Larva feeds within flowers and seedheads of Pignut, Burnet-saxifrage and Wild Carrot.