It is found throughout Europe and is well distributed in the British Isles except the far north of England and all of Scotland.

They live in deciduous and coniferous forests with large populations of their foodplants, but also in gardens and parks.

This is a distinctive and attractive species; its grey-brown forewings are marked with bold buff-orange "arches".

These are brown-red and have a narrow dark dorsal line with indistinct light side spots.

This moth is one of many insects that has been badly affected by light pollution with the species population declining by 62% since the 1970s.