It is a montane butterfly only found in southwestern areas of the Alps.

As with most Pyrgus species, the carline skipper can be difficult to identify in the field.

The dark brown upper forewings are marked with relatively small white markings but can usually be separated from the olive skipper (Pyrgus serratulae) by a c-shaped white mark close to the costa and the reddish-brown, not olive green, colour of the under hindwings, with a large square pale spot close to the margin.

Underside of hindwing reddish brown; the white spots between veins 2 and 4 much reduced; in interspace 2 a white, usually rounded, spot, which belongs to the subterminal band, the latter being otherwise but feebly marked.

[1] The larval food plant is spring cinquefoil.