It is found in most of Europe, ranging from northern Spain, through Portugal as far north as Finland.

It is also found in North Africa, Turkey, the Caucasus region and northern Iran.

Forewing rosy red, or bright brick red without markings; hindwing pale grey: abdomen whitish with rosy anal segment; the male of this form is dull pink, with the costa and all the veins broadly dark grey and sometimes a trace of the dark outer line of dots; hindwing darker grey; in neither sex is there any tint of yellow or fulvous; the form fulva Hbn.

punicea Tutt appears to be a paler and greyer, less fulvous, form of fulva; while pallida Stph.is pale ochreous or bone colour with the costa and veins dark grey and generally a dark shade running below the median vein; this form occurs of two sizes; the larger form may possibly represent the ab.

is distinguished by having the inner and outer lines complete and fully marked across the forewing, which is dark grey.