It is found from the British Isles to Siberia, the Russian Far East and Japan. In the south and western Mediterranean it is found in Italy, the Balkans and the Black Sea region and the Caucasus. In the north it occurs above the Arctic Circle. It rises to about 1600 meters above sea level in the Alps. The nominate subspecies is found in the West Palearctic and Macaria liturata pressaria is found in the East Palearctic.
Description
The wingspan is 22–27 mm. The length of the forewings is 11–13 mm. The wings have a purple-grey ground colour. There are three dark crossbars on the forewings, which are thickened at the front edge and often dissolve into points. A wide reddish-yellow transverse band is visible behind the outer cross line, beginning with a brownish red stain on the front edge and continuing on to the hindwings. The forewings are slightly indented below the apex, the hindwings show a short tip in the middle.
