It is found in southern Europe, Morocco, Lebanon, Asia Minor, Iran and across the Palearctic to Siberia and Tian Shan.

For the first generation the upperside is blue with grey hind-wings and in the female a sub-marginal line of orange spots.

The summer generation of the female is brown with the same sub-marginal line of orange spots while they are absent in the lighter male.

The underside is ochre marked with black dots circled in white and decorated with a sub-marginal line of orange spots.

The larva feeds on Onobrychis species (O. arenaria, O. peduncularis, O. sativa and O. viciifolia) Two subspecies are recognized: