Wingspan 30-38 mm. The only British Burnet with six red spots on forewing (red patch at base is divided by a vein and counts as two spots).

Occupying meadows, woodland clearings and sea-cliffs.

It flies from June to August.

The larvae feed mainly on Bird's-foot Trefoil.

This is the commonest of Britain's day-flying Burnet moths, and is found throughout Britain, with a coastal bias in the north. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.

Fairly frequent but not common in Leicestershire and Rutland. L&R Moth Group status = B (scarce resident or restricted distribution or regular migrant)