Gaudy Commodores are native to Africa and have a year-round flight period.
   They have a wet season form, which is orange with a pinkish flush and black markings on the dorsal side, and a dry season form which is a shiny blue with a vivid red band on the hindwing.
   The southern subspecies (Precis octavia sesamus) also has two seasonal forms: a summer form (natalensis) which is red with black markings, and a winter form (sesamus) which is blue with a line of red markings on the wings.
   The winter form is slightly larger than the summer form, and In both forms the males and females are alike, however the females are slightly larger.
    The nominate northern subspecies (Precis octavia octavia) occurs from eastern Senegal, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Ghana, Togo, Benin, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Congo, northern and central DRC, CAR, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia.
   The southern subspecies of these butterflies (Precis octavia sesamus) is found from the border region of the Eastern and Western Cape in South Africa and along the eastern side of South Africa, to Eswatini, Mozambique, Tanzania and Kenya.
    The two seasonal forms are not only different in appearance, but also display different behaviours.
    In the nominate subspecies, Precis octavia octavia, the dry season form tends to fly less actively than the more territorial wet season form, and is often quiescent in discreet hiding places even under eaves or indoors. They tend to wander towards the forest zone where they may breed seasonally rather than year-round.
   Among the southern subspecies, Precis octavius sesamus, the males of the summer form display conspicuous hilltopping, and show both territorial and perching behavior.
   They fly between one and two meters off the ground with a medium-fast flap and flap and glide motion.
   They are often found in grasslands.
   The male winter form rarely hilltops, has a random flight pattern, and is often found near forests.
In cold weather, the winter form hibernates in holes or under overhanging rocks. Groups of up to 35 individuals may gather together in these places.
   The summer and winter form have been seen mating with each other.
    It is believed that this species has the most spectacular seasonal dimorphism of any butterfly, and the two morphs were described as distinct species.