It is found in Northern Europe, and across the Palearctic to the Caucasus, Transcaucasia, North Siberia, Russian Far East, Amur and Mongolia.

Distinguished by the less deep excision between the radials of the hindwing, less rich colouring, enlarged costal spots at the origin of the lines, a median area not differentiated in colour from the distal area, transparent discal marks not well developed.

The spring form is large, strongly irrorated with fuscous, sometimes more olivaceous.the median and postmedian lines darkened into a band.

minima Strand is a dwarfed form, sometimes sharply marked, frequent in Arctic Norway.

[1] The larva is orange-brown or reddish brown, sometimes inclining to purplish; mepo- and metathorax enlarged laterally, 4th—5th abdominal swollen, with small dorsal humps; anterior segments marked with bright orange.