The upperside of the wings are an iridescent electric blue; the underside is a more subdued black and brown.

When in flight, the butterfly can be seen hundreds of meters away as sudden bright blue flashes.

The Ulysses butterfly inhabits tropical rainforest areas and suburban gardens.

In the past, this butterfly had been threatened but planting pink flowered doughwood has increased its numbers.

The larval food plants of this butterfly include kerosene wood, a variety of Citrus, and Euodia.