It is a common species in the Malayan Peninsula and on Bunguran Island in the South China Sea.

The long, sharp mouthparts, known as the rostrum, are inserted into the trunks of trees to suck sap from the xylem.

In females it is tipped by a large, saw-edged ovipositor, while in males, it encloses the tymbal organ which is used in the production of the song.

[4] Purana tigrina was first described in 1850 from the Malabar Coast of southwestern India by the English entomologist Francis Walker.

It occurs in primary lowland rainforest but is more often found in secondary forest, felled areas, parks and gardens.