[1] The species' common and scientific names derive from the larva's supposed drinking of drops of dew.

In choosing the name potatoria ‘drinker-like’, he was inspired by the Dutch entomologist Johannes Goedaert, who had called the animal dronckaerdt ‘drunkard’ “because it is very much inclined to drinking”.

[6] It is most frequently found in marshy places, fens and riversides but may also be seen in drier, grassy terrain.

The yellowish females are slightly larger than the orange-brown male but both sexes usually show the two distinctive white spots on the forewing.

[9] The fully grown larva is about 6 cm long, hairy, striped and spotted, with distinctive tufts fore and aft.