It is a widespread and common species, being found throughout the Palearctic region, including the Near East and North Africa.

The inner margin of the pale white sub-marginal line bears black marks.

On the back there is a pale band marked with a series of dark diamonds or triangles.

The drawing resembles a rear-facing trident, is sometimes crow-foot-like and can occasionally be only weakly formed.

[2] Two, sometimes three, broods are produced each year and the adults are on the wing in April and May (sometimes earlier), July and August, and sometimes later in the autumn.