Habitat: Flower-rich areas with tall grasses, grasslands, forest clearings, areas with shrubs.

Appearance: Throughout Europe, including southern England, Belgium, the Netherlands, southern Fennoscandia, the Baltic countries, Sicily and Corsica. Absent from Sardinia.

Flying time: One generation. May/August.

Characteristics: Wingspan 22 – 26 mm.

Life cycle: Host plants of the grass family (Poaceae) such as Cat grass (Dactylis glomerata), Tor-grass (Brachypodium pinnatum), etc. The female lays smooth oval eggs in groups in the leaf sheaths and flower spikes of the host plant. The caterpillars are fully developed just before winter but do not hatch until early spring. They live freely on the grasses and pupate on the upper side of the grass blades. The butterflies suck nectar from various herbs, thistles (Carduus), Blueweed (Echium vulgare) and brownray knapweed (Centaurea jacea).