The outer cross line shows a pointed bulge outwards, which follows the "tail" of the perimeter.

The body is pale ochreous with a distinct brown dorsal line, often partly broken up into spots anteriorly, but becoming darker and more continuous posteriorly; ventral surface mixed with fuscous.

Varieties occur in which the ground-colour is more grey, or more tinged with greenish or with red-brown, but it is always of some pale shade.

The species is mostly southern European (from Portugal to the Balkan peninsula and Greece) as well as North African (from Morocco to Libya).

In the Middle East, in southern Turkey, Cyprus, Crete and the Greek islands of the south-east, the nominate S. i. imitaria is replaced by S. i. syriaca Culot, 1918.

The reddish yellow form S. i. syriaca occurs especially on hot, dry areas in the lowlands and hills.

It is widespread in the Mediterranean region on sandy or stony soil, the maquis shrubland, evergreen oak forests, olive groves and rocky grassland.