Distribution: The species is widespread throughout Europe and European Russia. No records exist from Spain and Greece.

Habitat: The larvae of Athripsodes aterrimus live in stagnant and slowly to moderately flowing waters, such as ponds, lakes and their outlets, rivers and streams; they are usually found among plants and on muddy sand (Botosaneanu & Malicky 1978, Robert & Wichard 1994, Wallace et al. 2003).

Nutrition: Larvae are shredders, detritivore and carnivore (Graf et al. 2002).

Adults: Adults are on the wing from May to September (Waringer & Graf 1997).