It is native to Eurasia, and has been introduced into North America as a biocontrol agent for leafy spurge.

Adults are brown and difficult to distinguish in the field from A. cyparissiae and A. nigriscutis.

A. flava is still the dominant beetle at some Manitoba release sites, but it is relatively scarce in North Dakota and Minnesota.

The larvae size is tiny, and are of white colour and are worm-like.

Starting from late spring to early summer the pupa stage begins in the soil.