The Grass Yellows are all fairly small butterflies, readily recognized by their bright yellow wings and their habit of gathering in small groups on patches of damp sand or soil. Common Grass Yellow butterflies like to fly quickly, close to the ground, are found in open grassy or bushy terrain, hence their name. Grass Yellows are among the most familiar of butterflies in NEERI campus and also among most common Indian butterflies, found worldwide. Found in the North America, Africa, and in Australia. Many of the species are migratory in behavior, and found migrating in large numbers across the entire African, throughout most of Asia south of the Himalayas. This species is found in diverse damp habitats including forest clearings, along roadsides and riverbanks, and in parks and gardens at elevations between sea level and about 1500 metres. Common Grass Yellow butterfly larvae feed on a variety of plants, depending on the region, although they often include plants from Euphorbiaceae, the family of spurges, and Fabaceae, the family of legumes, peas and beans.

Common Grass Yellow butterflies have different colouration in their wings depending on the season, known as 'seasonal polyphenism', resulting in generally darker wing colours in summer.

Common Grass Yellow has a variable marking. In Wet season form adults are bright yellow. Upper forewing apex and termen are broadly black. Upper hind wing has two black spots in cell. However, one or both of these spots may be absent. Male with fairly prominent brand near base of upper hind wing. Common Grass Yellow male butterflies are often seen in large groups, and the females usually fly about by themselves to find nectar from a wide variety of plants.

Larval food plants are Caesalpinia, Cassia, Acacia, Sesbania Pithecolobium.