It is found in France, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, the Balkan Peninsula, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia,[1] Turkey and Georgia.

Smaller and weaker than the previous species,[ Zygaena purpuralis ] with considerably shorter antenna.

gallica Oberthür, 1898 ] from Digne, the red colour of forewing being somewhat reduced in this form.

from Syria, is rather intensity coloured, but is very much smaller than typical brizae; the forewing strongly rounded and almost elliptical; the black marginal band of hindwing narrow but sharply marked.

The blackish, posteriorly yellow pupa, lies in a silvery white cocoon.