On the fore and, usually, hind wing there is a dark outer border often containing light spots. On the discoidal vein of the fore wing there is a black medial spot, while on that of hind wing - a light medial spot. The imagines often display an individual polymorphism but rather a weak geographical variation. The larvae of the majority of species are connected trophically with legumes. The pupae have a pointed head, a blunt prominence on the thorax back, and a larger one - on the ventral side at the wing cases.
Hibernation occurs at the larval stage.
The genus includes about 70 species, the majority of which are connected with the mountains of C. Asia, N and S America. Some notes about these pages The status of a taxon is based on the most recent information I have been able to find. Newer articles with new information that I have not heard about might have been published. Additionally different authors may have different opinions about a taxon at the same time and the article I have based the status on might therefore only represent the opinion of one or a few authors while other authors do not agree on this. Through the years many forms have been described.