This butterfly is common in central and southern Europe, Asia Minor, Persia and Afghanistan, migrating northwards in the summer.

[2] The host plants of the larvae are in the family Brassicaceae and vary according to locality.

They include tower mustard (Arabis glabra) and sea rocket (Cakile maritima).

[2] The following subspecies are recognised: The butterfly lives in the Mediterranean coastal dunes, on rocky, hot slopes etc.

The Hope Entomological Collection in the Oxford University Museum of Natural History contains a specimen of this species dating from 1702, which is the oldest pinned entomological specimen still on its original pin in existence.