The uppersides of the forewings are black or dark brown, with veins bordered by pale yellow.

The basic colour of the females is black or dark brown, with veins bordered by white.

The uppersides of the hindwings have a smaller golden-yellow area at the base and several yellow spots at the edges.

In the penultimate and final instars the head is black and the thorax and abdomen is dark coffee brown.

They are incline posteriorly and the apices are bent forwards to form small hooks.

The males perform an elaborate quivering courtship display several metres above the females, before copulation.

Later in the day both sexes descend to feed on flowering trees and bushes including Lantana.