There is a prominent broad dark brown band in the median field comprising two distinct shades, the middle being greyer, the edges more ferruginous.

The dorsal line is dark and interrupted, the side stripes are light and continuous.

The cremaster is wide, with two long hook-shaped thorns and two fine lateral bristles rolled up at the top [4] The moth flies in one generation from June to August.

[2][1] The larva feeds on Centaurea scabiosa, Centaurea jacea, Knautia arvensis, Knautia dipsacifolia, Scabiosa columbaria, Cirsium arvense, Cirsium oleraceum, Origanum vulgare, Thymus pulegioides, Sanguisorba officinalis, Eupatorium cannabinum, Clinopodium vulgare, Solidago gigantea and Vicia cracca.

[2][5] This species can be found throughout much of the Palearctic from Europe it extends across Central Asia to Siberia,[6] the Russian Far East (Sakhalin), Amur, Altai Mountains, and Ussuri.