It is found in the west Palearctic in a wide band through northern, central and eastern Europe and Russia (up to the Ural Mountains).
It is traditionally thought of as a species typical of heathland and moorland but it can often be found in places where heather and its relatives are in garden cultivation, or sunny slopes and forest edges.
This is a small but attractive species, with a wingspan of 26–34 mm (individuals hatched in higher altitudes tend to be smaller than those from the lowlands).
It flies from the latter half of June to the beginning of August[1] and is attracted to light and the flowers of its food plants.
from France, has a pale blurred appearance: – concinna Esp is deep purple in colour; – while suffusa Tutt from Shetland is larger than the type and brown-red.