July to August. Common and well distributed throughout Britain.

An extremely variable moth from yellowish brown to greyish or reddish brown, blackish brown or black. A kidney mark on the forewing is always visible and at least partly outlined in white. This species is impossible to distinguish from the Lesser Common Rustic and Remm’s Rustic without referring to the genitalia.

The larvae can be found from September to the following May feeding inside plant stems, moving to new ones as they grow and then pupates underground.