[2] The description of the commonest subspecies of the butterfly in India, T. h. cerberus Felder, is given below:[3] Upperside of forewings are rich velvety black with adnervular pale streaks on either side of the veins beyond the cell.

Upper and under sides of the female is similar to those in the male, but with the following differences: T. helena is widely distributed and locally common in forest areas.

Globally it is found in Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, peninsular and eastern Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, southern China including Hainan, and Hong Kong.

[2] In the Indonesian archipelago, T. helena is found in Sumatra, Nias, Enggano, Java, Bawean, Kangean Islands, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Great Natuna (Bunguran), Sulawesi, Butung, Tukangbesi, Kalimantan, and Brunei.

It is not common in Hong Kong but it is observed that there are stable populations in three sites (the surrounding area of Po Lo Che (Sai Kung District), Shan Liu Road (Tai Po) and Kadoorie Farm & Botanic Garden in the New Territories).