It is found throughout north and central Europe and east across the Palearctic to Siberia, and south to the Caucasus and Transcaucasia.

Hindwing rather more glossy and brownish than that of Thera variata, the discal dot generally altogether obsolete on the upperside, though expressed beneath.

is an infrequent aberration with three unusually well developed, elongate interneural submarginal streaks between the 5th subcostal and 3rd radial veins.

mediolucens Rossi, is a rather striking form in which the ground-colour is appreciably darkened while the median band remains fulvous, thus appearing lighter, or at least brighter, than the adjoining areas.

White is almost unicolorous brown-black or black-brown in Britain and occasionally in the mountains of Central Italy.