Local on waste ground, farmland and other open areas throughout much of England, north to Yorkshire, northern Wales, and central Scotland, where it is rare. In Hampshire there are few records of this species, the only recent ones being in the south of the county, at West Park (Rockbourne), Gosport and Fareham; formerly known from Emer Bog and Southsea in the south and Leckford in the north, where the larvae could be found in some quantity. Not recorded from the Isle of Wight to date. Wingspan 8-9 mm. The orange and lead-grey imago is seldom encountered, and the species is more likely to be recorded in the larval stage, when larvae may be obtained by sweeping the foodplant. Larva mines leaves of Goosefoot and Orache, over-wintering in a cocoon.

Flightime guide
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