[3][5] This was earlier considered a race of Pachliopta jophon found in Sri Lanka.

The white colour of the forewings is much more extended, especially in the apical region, but also more shaded with black scales; the internervular black streaks between the median nervures (veins 4-6) are much longer, the white linear markings, in the cell reach the discocellular veinlets.

(Rothschild, quoted in Bingham)[6][7][8] It resembles the common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) from which it can be differentiated by the much larger white patch on its hindwings.

This butterfly is confined to the wet jungles of southern India and the Western Ghats, between 1,000 and 3,000 feet (300 and 910 m).

The flight of this butterfly resembles that of the common rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae).