 The moth lives in the whole Palearctic ecozone except the north of Africa; absent in Siberia between Ob' river and Lake Baikal.In Britain it is more frequent in the southern counties 

In the first instar the caterpillar feeds entirely on its own egg-shell and is unusual in that it mimics an ant or small spider.This is due to the long thoracic legs "and caudal appendages which are ever nervously twisting about".