It is widespread and common in much of western Eurasia, but seems to be absent from some more outlying regions, such as Portugal and the eastern Baltic, Ireland and Iceland.

[1] Generally, it is a moth of warm temperate regions, e.g. in Great Britain it is only a rare and scarce species from the English Midlands northwards.

They are on the wing in late spring to early summer, about May to July or starting somewhat earlier[citation needed], depending on location.

Their forewings are predominantly blackish, with irregular white mottling and speckling which results in a rough black zig-zag stripe running along the length of the wings.

The hindwings are uniformly pale dull grey and have a longer hairy fringe which is colored like the wings proper.