It is found throughout much of the Palearctic region and the Near East though its distribution is rather local due to its specialized larval food plant.

In the British Isles it is fairly common in England and Wales but much rarer in Scotland and Ireland.

The inner brownish transverse line surrounding the central field is sharply bent at right angles under the anterior margin, the strong violet-brown outer transverse line shows a strong jagged bulge towards the margin.

In newly hatched moths, the fringes are alternately light and dark spotted.

Some other members of the genus such as the northern spinach and barred straw rest in a similar way.