The species has a dark ground colour which is overlain with red, yellow, cream, white or orange markings.

They are laid on the stems and inflorescences of host plants in batches usually of about twelve eggs in two neat rows.

It is found in Western Europe except for northern Scandinavia, Kazakhstan, most of Russia, the mountainous regions of west and central Asia, and in North Africa.

The adults and nymphs are consumers of a wide range of cruciferous plants (Brassicaceae), feeding mainly on the flowering parts.

Among cultivated crops the bugs damage cabbage, radish, turnip, rutabaga, horseradish and rape.