The underside is green (verdigris) with a metallic gloss and broad silver bands which are partly curved, hence the name silver-washed.

On females of the minority valesina form, recurrent in most European populations, the ground color is not fawn but grey with greenish reflections.

The caterpillar usually feeds at night, and usually conceals itself during the day away from its food source, but during cool weather will bask in the sunny spots on the forest floor on dry, dead leaves.

The species is on the wing in Europe from July till September, in Eastern Asia til October; it is very common everywhere and flies particularly on broad roads in the forest and at the edges of woods.

When desirous to mate the male circles around the female, while the latter is flying with even flappings of the wings straight for a bush or a projecting branch.