It is found in Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, North Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Turkey.

Above very similar to virgaureae; the hindwing of the male with very short but distinct tails.

The underside quite different, the hindwing bearing a row of cinnabar- red spots before the margin.

In spring-specimens the ground-colour of the underside of the hindwing is plumbeous grey, being more yellowish in the individuals of the second brood.

— On the Balkan Peninsula and in Asia Minor, in May and June, locally so common that, e. g., Mann obtained near Brussa over 100 specimens in two hours.