It is found in Europe, North Africa and across the Palearctic up to the Altai Mountains.It prefers to live on sunny slopes, hedge rows, bushy places as well as in gardens and parks.

A narrow, dark lateral band is located near the base of the forewings.

The basal region is limited by a slightly curved, blackish transverse band.

A large dark triangle costal patch which becomes a jagged line gets thinner towards the inner edge and is a unique pattern.

Sometimes the spots are reduced only to the areas behind the head and to the segment bearing the rearmost pair of legs.