The distribution of the species is restricted to South Canara and Kodagu in Karnataka, Malabar in Kerala and the Nilgris in Tamil Nadu.

Its thorax is black with three oblique bright yellow stripes.

Its wings are transparent with dark brown apices and black pterostigma.

The colour and markings of the female is very similar to the male.

[6][7][8] It is commonly found in mountains in the Western Ghats, soaring in high altitudes.