Exhibits a wingspan of approximately 28 to 35 millimeters, standing out as a highly contrasting and visually striking lepidopteran. The dorsal surface of the wings features a deep charcoal-black to dark brown background, dramatically bisected by a continuous, vibrant bright orange or reddish-orange band that spans across both the forewings and hindwings. A key diagnostic feature of this taxon is the presence of glittering metallic silver spots and delicate lines arranged irregularly along the margins and basal areas of the wings, which shimmer intensely under direct sunlight. In contrast, the ventral side of the wings is much paler, dominated by greyish-brown and yellow tones combined with an intricate pattern of ocelli and silver speckling that provides highly effective camouflage when the butterfly rests with closed wings. Its antennae are notably slender, displaying a characteristic black and white ringed pattern and ending in a well-defined dark club with a pale tip. The forelegs of the males are highly reduced and lack claws, a distinctive anatomical and evolutionary trait shared with other members of its family.

Geographical distribution: Occurs predominantly in the southern and central regions of South America. Its known geographical range extends across central and northern Argentina, spanning continuously through the entirety of Uruguay, the eastern and central zones of Paraguay, and into the southernmost states of Brazil, with particularly abundant records in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. It is an ecological component highly representative of the Humid Chaco, the Espinal transition zones, and the riparian gallery forests bordering the Río de la Plata river system.

Habitat: Inhabits native xerophytic woodlands, semi-arid scrublands, gallery forests, and open temperate lowland forests. In its southern range, it exhibits an extremely tight and specific ecological association with the talares, which are native forest formations growing on calcareous soils and fossil dunes, dominated by thorny trees of the genus Celtis. Additionally, it can adapt to semi-natural environments and low-intensity anthropized landscapes, such as urban gardens, public parks, rural roadsides, and shrubby pastures, provided that remnants of its larval host plants and stable water sources are present.

Feeding: During the adult or imago stage, it uses a specialized proboscis to actively feed on the nectar of a wide variety of vascular plants, showing a marked preference for wild flowers belonging to the Asteraceae and Verbenaceae families. Adults are also frequently observed mud-puddling to absorb essential minerals and moisture from damp soil, decaying fruits, animal droppings, and sap flows on damaged tree trunks. Conversely, the larval stage is strictly phytophagous and highly selective, feeding almost exclusively on the fresh leaves of the tala tree (Celtis tala, also classified as Celtis ehrenbergiana), a thorny tree species that constitutes the fundamental pillar for the development and survival of its populations.

Behavior: Exhibits strongly diurnal and heliophilic habits, reaching its peak of flight activity during hours of intense solar radiation, typically from mid-morning to early afternoon. Its flight pattern is characterized as fast, erratic, and low to the ground, rarely rising above the shrub canopy. Males are highly territorial and engage in perching behavior, strategically resting on the undersides or upper surfaces of leaves along sunny forest edges to monitor their territory, swiftly launching into flight to chase away rival males or pursue passing females. When resting on vegetation, they typically hold their wings flat or partially open to regulate their internal temperature by absorbing solar energy.

Reproduction: The biological cycle begins with a brief aerial courtship, after which the mated female carefully searches for new shoots or the undersides of the leaves of the host plant to lay her eggs individually. These eggs are tiny, hemispherical, ribbed, and light green, blending seamlessly with the plant tissue. After a brief incubation period, the small caterpillars hatch. They are dorsoventrally flattened, pale green with yellow longitudinal lines, and covered with fine protective setae that shield them from small predators. Upon completing their larval stages, the caterpillar spins a silk girdle and secures itself by the cremaster to transform into a greyish-brown pupa, which remains camouflaged among bark or dry leaves until the adult emerges, a process that usually takes ten to fifteen days under optimal warm conditions.

Conservation status: Has not been globally assessed by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), meaning it currently lacks a category on the global Red List. However, at a regional level, its populations are under increasing pressure due to the systematic destruction of native tala forests, deforestation for agricultural expansion, urban sprawl, and the heavy application of chemical pesticides. Preserving native woodland remnants and incorporating indigenous host plants into urban landscaping are critical actions needed to mitigate the habitat loss of this species.