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The butterflies have a wingspan of about 110 mm (4.3 in), and in Mexico are on the wing from July to December. The upper surface of the wings is black patterned with translucent green patches. The underside is similar with some brown streaks with gray scales. Philaethria dido is often confused with Siproeta stelenes. They have a similar coloration, but their wing shapes are different and whereas P. dido flies high in the canopy, S. stelenes is often to be seen in forest clearings and open secondary forest.

Philaethria dido chocoensis is endemic to land west of the Andes, its range extending from the western parts of Ecuador to the Chocó region in northwestern Colombia. Philaethria dido dido has a more widespread distribution and is native to tropical forests in South America to the east of the Andes. Its range extends from Brazil to Bolivia and Colombia and northward to Mexico. Stray butterflies have occasionally been observed in the lower part of the valley of the Rio Grande in Texas. This butterfly's flight is fast and direct and it mainly flits through the canopy and along the courses of streams, but it may also be seen in clearings and sunlit glades. It is present in tropical rainforests at altitudes from zero up to 1200 metres (4000 ft) but it is absent from deciduous forests.