Occurs through central and southern Europe to the Balkans and southern Russia, and in Asia Minor to Iran. In Britain it was first recorded in Kingsdown, Kent on 13/6/2014, since which there have been annual arrivals, and it is now almost annual in our area.
Wingspan 34-40 mm. Distinguished from the superficially similar
Alchymist Catephria alchymista by its generally smaller size, browner forewing tone and whitish patch in the discal area of the forewing, and from the closely related
Sorcerer Aedia leucomelas by the presence of a white costal crescent.