Its reported native range expands from Eastern Europe Ukraine and Russia, south to Afghanistan, Iran, and Syria.

[1][2] In 2013, the moth larva was approved for release in North America to act as a biocontrol agent for invasive swallow-wort plants, Vincetoxicum rossicum and Vincetoxicum nigrum.

The eggs are deposited on the under and upper sides of host plants along main veins.

Pupation occurs either on the host plant within leaves tied with silk or on the ground within the leaf litter.

Hypena opulenta has a facultative diapause and is believed to usually undergo two generations per year.