"pallida" Tutt, while the grey examples with no rufous or luteous tinge whatever are "grisea" Tutt; — "suspecta" Hbn [type] is more mottled with darker, brownish red, shades; — in "nigrescens" Tutt these dark shades are intensified and the whole insect becomes blackish red brown; the bright red specimens, with lines and markings clear are "rufa" Tutt; — while the red brown forms mixed with purplish grey and with paler stigmata are "variegata" 

Adults are on wing from late July to August in one generation in Europe.Larva purplish brown; dorsal line yellowish white, well-defined; subdorsal lines faint; tubercles prominent; underside pale yellowish.