Characterized by a wingspan measuring between 40 and 50 millimeters, this medium-sized lepidopteran exhibits minimal sexual dimorphism to the naked eye. The dorsal surface of its wings is predominantly dark brown to velvet black, adorned with a brilliant, iridescent metallic blue-green band that runs diagonally across the forewings, creating a striking contrast when illuminated by direct sunlight during active flight. Conversely, the ventral side presents an extraordinary example of warning or aposematic coloration: the forewings feature a bright crimson-red patch at the base, while the hindwings display a pristine creamy white background decorated with intricate, concentric black lines that form a distinct pattern resembling the number 80 or 88, a morphological adaptation thought to confuse or deter potential avian and reptilian predators.

Geographical distribution This species is native to the subtropical and temperate regions of South America. Its geographic range extends across southern and southeastern Brazil (including states such as Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul), throughout eastern Paraguay, into northeastern Argentina (particularly within the wet provinces of Misiones, Corrientes, and Entre Ríos), and reaches the northern and riverine areas of Uruguay. It is a characteristic faunal element of the Atlantic Forest biome and the complex humid ecosystems of the Paraná and Uruguay river basins.

Habitat: Primarily found inhabiting the understory and canopy of humid subtropical forests, riparian woodlands, gallery forests, and transitional forest edges. It also adapts well to moderately disturbed environments, frequently occurring in forest clearings, eco-tourism trails, agricultural borders, public parks, and urban gardens that retain patches of native vegetation and remain in close proximity to freshwater streams or wet soil.

Feeding As an adult, it utilizes a specialized proboscis to feed exclusively on liquid nutrients, exhibiting a diet focused on decaying organic matter. It actively feeds on rotting fruits, fermenting tree sap, mammal dung, animal carcasses, and the mineral-rich damp soil along riverbanks, a biological behavior known as puddling. In contrast, the larval stage is strictly phytophagous, with caterpillars feeding exclusively on the foliage of trees in the Cannabaceae family, particularly targeting species of the genus Celtis, such as the tala tree (Celtis tala).

Behavior: Renowned for its rapid, erratic, and powerful flight pattern, this butterfly is highly agile, making it extremely difficult for insectivorous birds to capture in mid-air. It is strictly diurnal, with peak activity coinciding with the warmest, sunniest hours of the day. Males exhibit territorial behavior, perching on sunlit tree trunks or low foliage to monitor their surroundings and intercept potential mates. It is highly gregarious when puddling on damp sand, often forming multi-species aggregations, and is known to land on humans to imbibe sodium from sweat.

Reproduction The life cycle begins when the mated female deposits solitary, dome-shaped eggs on the underside of host plant leaves. Upon hatching, the larva is bright green and features prominent, branched crown-like spines on its head, which act as a physical defense against invertebrate predators. The caterpillar progresses through several instars before pupating into a pale green chrysalis suspended head-down from a leaf or twig. The timing of this developmental cycle is highly dependent on warm seasonal temperatures and humidity levels.

Conservation status This species has not been globally evaluated by the IUCN Red List and is generally considered common within its natural range. Nevertheless, localized populations are susceptible to habitat fragmentation, deforestation, and the loss of larval host plants due to expanding agriculture and urban sprawl, emphasizing the need for the protection of native subtropical forest corridors and the preservation of indigenous flora.