It has a scattered distribution in western and central Europe north of the Alps.

In far eastern Europe – east of a line running roughly from Finland through Estonia – it is replaced by its sister species Timandra griseata.

[1] The wings are cream coloured with bold red or purple fascia forming a diagonal stripe across forewings and hindwings.

Two broods are produced each year with the adults flying in May and June and again in August and September.

In the UK, it feeds on the leaves of a variety of plants including dock, knotgrass, sorrel and various species of Atriplex.