[1][3] These mesophilic moths mainly occur in moorland and other woody upland areas, mountain meadows, bushy forest edges, forest bogs, heaths and stony slopes, at an elevation of 400–2,300 metres (1,300–7,500 ft) above sea level.

The name-typical form, as it occurs in the Alps, the mountains of Germany, Austria, southern France, etc., is the larger, paler race, the ground colour being clear white, the markings often pale, the distal area at times with only quite weak dark shading.

The subspecies Perizoma minorata ericetata, the only form known from Scotland, is considerably smaller, darker marked, the white band - distally to the median generally with a sharper dividing line, the hindwings are darker grey.

The subspecies Perizoma norvegica, from Norway, is as small as P. m. ericetata but otherwise forms a strong contrast to it, being more weakly marked than the name-type.

monticola Strand is a rare aberration, with the median area not darkened at all, but only indicated by the lines which limit it.