This species can be found across the Palaearctic region including Europe, North Africa, the Near East, Iran, southern Siberia, northern India, Korea and Japan.

The forewings are brown marked with paler fascia and a pale, dark-centred stigma.

It is very similar to Svensson's copper underwing (Amphipyra berbera) but identification is usually fairly straightforward by looking at some markings on the forewings,[4] the detail of the labial palps[3] and at the underside of the hindwings.

See Townsend et al.[5] The larva is green with white markings and a pointed hump at the rear end.

A pyramidea flies at night from August to October[1] and is attracted to light and strongly to sugar.