Its occurrence extends eastwards from Ireland, across Europe to the Near East, the Urals, the Ussuri region and on to the island of Sakhalin.

This species is rather similar to the wormwood pug, with warm brown forewings and a triangle of black spots close to the costa, but can be recognized by its broader wings and a more prominent white spot close to the tornus.

The larvae are greenish in spring, reddish or brownish in late summer and show very clear reddish-brown angular spots on the back.

The yellow-brown pupa has green wing sheaths and is equipped with two strong and six thin hook bristles on the cremaster.

The species prefers moist forest edges, shady hedges and riparian regions