The species occurs in North Africa, Asia minor, Syria, Iraq, Iran, Caucasus, Central Asia to China, Korea and Japan (subspecies C. t. exigua (Butler, 1881)).

It rises in the Alps up to 1600 m. This is a very variable species, both in size (wingspan 28–38 mm) and colour.

The ground colour of the forewings varies from pale buff to dark or reddish brown with three narrow fascia.

The area between the inner two fascia is sometimes much darker than the surrounding ground colour and is marked with stigmata, often quite indistinct.

This moth flies at night from July to September [1] and is attracted to light and sugar and sometimes to nectar-rich flowers.