[2] Forms within this species include:[3] This species can be found in most of Southern Europe (Cyprus, European Turkey, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta.

The dorsal surface is covered with dense black hairs.

Legs are black, femurs and tibiae are often partly red or yellow.

[6] This species presents many forms, with an enormous variability in colors, that may be white, black, gray, yellowish, greenish or blood red, with and without black spots.

The main host plants are Cirsium, Carduus and Silybum species.