Davey, P., 2009: A local damp moorland and marshland species in western and northern Britain, and rare in central and eastern England, the larva is polyphagous. In Dorset, this highly distinctive and rather large moth colonises mire, marsh and damp heathland habitat on sandy soils, and is most often observed where bog myrtle (Myrica gale) and purple moor-grass (Molinia caerulea) grow. In also inhabits damp habitat further north and west, notably in the Blackmore Vale and at Powerstock Common, where purple moor-grass is again a likely host foodplant.
Frequent light trap records from Purbeck during the 1930s with up to eight examples in a single night, suggests that a transitory colony was established in the area at the time: Swanage, on 13 September 1933, 26 October 1935, Scar Bank, on 18 and 20 September 1932, eight on 2 October and three on 8 October 1932, two on 15 October 1932, 17 October 1932, 25 October 1932, 20 October 1934, 13 September 1935 (A Russell).
The moth is evidently dispersive, with a number of records from localities well away from core colonies. The following additional records are of potential immigrant examples from the Continent: Durlston, two at MV light on 23 October 1965 (T Harman, B Elliott), two at ivy blossom on 16 October 1966 (R Cook), at MV light on 22 December 2002 (S Nash, P Davey).