It is native to western Europe (where it is found from Scandinavia to the Iberian Peninsula, Sardinia, Sicily and Crete and from Ireland to Poland).

[2] It is an introduced species in western North America (where it is found in southern British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California).

Forewings elongate, costa hardly arched, 7 to or close beneath apex; in male whitish-ochreous, unicolorous; in female pale greyish-ochreous, an angulated fascia at 1/3, central fascia with anterior edge excavated in middle and above dorsum, and costal patch suffusedly connected with it beneath costa brownish.

The larva is pale yellowish; dorsal and subdorsal lines greenish-grey; spots black; head and plate of 2 pale brown :[4] Julius von Kennel provides a full description.

[6] The larvae feed on a wide range of herbaceous plants, including Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae, Geraniaceae, Hydrophyllaceae, Linaceae, Papaveraceae, Polygonaceae, Rosaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Violaceae species.