[3] E. core is a glossy-black, medium-sized 85–95 mm (3.3–3.7 in) butterfly with rows of white spots on the margins of its wings.

As caterpillars, this species sequesters toxins from its food plant which are passed on from larva to pupa to the adult.

The males of this species visit plants like Crotalaria and Heliotropium to replenish pheromone stocks which are used to attract a female during courtship.

Like the tigers (genus Danaus), the crows are inedible and thus mimicked by other Indian butterflies (see Batesian mimicry).

The common crow is a glossy-black butterfly with brown undersides with white markings along the outer margins of both wings.

godarti) (Northeast India and Myanmar) Fore wing subtriangular, tornus more rounded than in E. core.

Fore wing with more or less incomplete and obsolescent series of subterminal and terminal small white spots, and a powdering of violaceous-white scales at apex, varying very considerably in extent from a mere trace of violaceous between the veins to a large and very conspicuous patch occupying the whole of the apex.

The brown king crow has a broad brand and the female has a short indistinct white streak on the underside.

E. core can be found in southern Pakistan, Sri Lanka, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Russia, and Australia.

When gliding E. core holds its wings at an angle just greater than the horizontal plane, maintaining its flight with a few measured wingbeats.

This butterfly also gathers on damaged parts of plants such as Crotalaria and Heliotropium to forage for pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are chemicals precursors to produce pheromones.

Once a female is in the vicinity the males glide around and with the help of a couple of yellow brush like organs extending out from the tip of the abdomen they disperse the scent in the air.

[11] The common crow is distasteful due to chemicals extracted from the latex of the food plants consumed in their caterpillar stage.

Thus protected, they fly in a leisurely manner, gliding skilfully with wings held slightly above the horizontal.

Just above the legs and prolegs, along the entire body is a wide orangish-red band interspersed with black spiracles.

Since the host plants contain poisonous latex, the caterpillar has evolved peculiar eating habits.

The caterpillar is able to tolerate the plant toxins and stores it in its fatty tissue which helps make the adult distasteful to predators.