[2] The nine-spotted moth is chiefly found in southern Europe but also seen up to northern Germany, and in the east to Anatolia and the Caucasus,[3] and there are some populations in the south-eastern Dutch nature reserves of Leudal and Meinweg.

A further feature is the prominent yellow ring at the sixth segment of the abdomen.

They are gray black with thick dark brown, fluffy hairs that grow from small growths.

[4] Similar-looking moths include Amata ragazzii (Turati, 1917) and Zygaena ephialtes (Linnaeus, 1758).

Adults of this diurnal moth fly on warm sunny days from late May to August, depending on location.