It is found in central and southern Europe, Asia Minor, Transcaucasia and North Africa.

- pallidaria Staudinger, 1901 is a very weakly marked, cinereous whitish form from Sicily, Dalmatia, etc.- syriacaria Staudinger shows a similar pale ground colour but the discal spots, median line of forewing and submarginal bands are well developed.

is dark violet-grey, the median line present, the distal bands broad.

- oliveirata Mabille, 1876 is similar to scandinaviaria but with a broad fuscous median band on the forewing.

seems to be also an aberration of plumaria, with the median shade of the forewing composed of three spots, the pale subterminal line (band) unusually distinct.

The larvae feed on Calluna vulgaris, Cytisus scoparius, Rumex and Lotus species.