It is found in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and possibly the coast of western Myanmar.

[5][6] The female is similar, the discal series of spots and subterminal lunules much duller, pale crimson irrorated (sprinkled) with black scales; in some specimens the anterior spots and lunules almost white barely tinged with crimson; abdomen above with the black colour extended further towards the apex.

The butterfly often roosts for the night in large companies on the twigs and branches of trees and shrubs, sometimes accompanied by a few common Mormons.

The red body, slow peculiar flight, bright colouration and pattern of the wings are meant to indicate to predators that this butterfly is inedible, being well protected by the poisons it has sequestered from its larval food plant.

During the peak of its season, several thousand crimson roses can be found congregating and then they begin migrating to other areas.

In the Entomologist's Monthly Magazine, 1880, p. 276, Mr. R. S. Eaton notes that in Bombay this butterfly roosted in great numbers together, however Charles Thomas Bingham notes that in the Western Ghats between Vengurla and Belgaum, where the butterfly occurred in some numbers and had the habit of roosting in company on twigs of some thorny shrub, but never saw more than "a score or so together".

Their bodies are fat, with orange-red tubercles and a prominent yellowish-white band transversely placed on segments six to eight.

The species is unpalatable as they sequester chemical compounds in their larval stages including aristolochic acid from the host plants.

[7] The nectar sources of the crimson rose with details of the flowering period are as follows: In common with other early naturalists Linnaeus followed the classical tradition.