Davey, P., 2009: A local species in England and Wales, the larva feeding on the flowers of common cow-wheat (Melampyrum pratense). In Dorset, the moth is rare. So far, it has only been found in the north and north-east of the county within old deciduous woodland, specifically in oak woods where the foodplant carpets rides, such as in Piddles Wood, Chetterwood, Holt Wood, and Boys Wood. Other sites where the foodplant grows include Clifton Wood and Bere Wood. It is recommended that this species be included in habitat management plans for old oak and birch woodland sites that contain cow-wheat.

This species is similar to Haworth's Pug and Valerian Pug. Diagnostics include: small; an overall greyish ground colour; no well-marked discal spot or tornal spots; proximity of host foodplant.