It is found in barrens and pine woodlands of the United States from Ohio to southern Maine, south to northern Florida, Mississippi and Texas.

Zale obliqua has a less contrasting pattern and no bluish gray band.

Adults are on wing in late March in southeastern North Carolina and in early summer from New Jersey northward.

From eastern Maryland to northeastern North Carolina southward there are two generations.

They feed on pitch pine in the north and probably loblolly, pond, and longleaf pine in the south.