It is found throughout Europe, the Azores, and parts of the United States and Canada.

It forms an interbreeding population with limicola, and duffieldi may be considered a specially adapted subspecies of it.

[5] Males of the species have variable pale transverse bands, and can only be distinguished from A. limicola, A. albiger, and A. duffieldi by examining their aedeagus.

[5] The species is native to Europe, being found in Portugal, France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Estonia, Great Britain, and the Isle of Man.

It has also been introduced to North America, where it is found in the Great Lakes region and the Pacific Northwest.