It is found in northern and central Europe; further south and east it seems to be confined to the mountains Pyrenees, Alps, Urals.

It is very variable in colour, with the male considerably darker than the female; in some districts the sexual dimorphism is quite striking.

This sex is also appreciably smaller and narrower-winged than the male and has a much stouter abdomen.

The ground colour is darkened and the median band narrow, almost black.

[1] [2][3] [4] The larva is long and slender and differs so from most species of the genus Perizoma.