It is native to the Palearctic realm, but has been accidentally imported into the United States.

The wingspan is about 15–20 mm.The forewings are oblong, pale reddish-brown, fuscous, or dark fuscous, darker-strigulated; tufts slight, a larger one in middle of disc; edge of basal patch darker dorsally; a large triangular red-brown or blackish-fuscous blotch on costa, anterior edge deep red-brown, sometimes with extension of central fascia to dorsum.

It is quite variable, but the forewing almost always has a rather broad, reddish, triangular to trapezoidal spot at the leading edge.

In Europe, adults are on wing from June to July and again from August to September.

The larvae feed on Crataegus, Filipendula ulmaria, Populus, Prunus, Rosa, Rubus, Sorbus, Salix, Symphytum officinale and Vaccinium.