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Maharashtra has become the first State to have 'Blue Mormon' as a ‘State butterfly’
Maharashtra has become the first State to have a ‘State butterfly’
22nd June 2015
The Maharashtra BJP-led government has declared the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) as the State butterfly. The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board in Mumbai on Monday.
The Blue Mormon is a large, swallowtail butterfly found primarily in Sri Lanka and India, mainly restricted to the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, South India and coastal belts. It may occasionally be spotted in the Maharashtrian mainland between Vidarbha and Western Maharashtra.
It is reportedly the second largest butterfly found in India, just smaller than the southern birdwing. “No State in India has ever declared a State butterfly and the species has been one of the most neglected,” said a statement from the office of State Forest Department Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, explaining the rationale behind the announcement.
The wingspan is about 12.0 – 14.0 cm. The Blue Mormon is a member of the family PAPILIONIDAE. The butterfly is black with great blue areas on wing. Hind wings have no tails.
The forewings are black. In the middle of wing there is a light blue area, which is divided by black veins or stripes.
The underside is black. Next to the margin there is a yellowish band which is divided by many black veins or stripes. Nearby the body there is a red area.
The hind wings are light blue and have no tails. The margin is ridged and black. Nearby the body there is a black area. In the middle of wing there is a chain of black spots. Next to the margin there is also a chain of black spots.
The underside is nearly a copy of upside, but the blue is change to yellow. The black area around the body is broader than upside. Nearby the body there is a red area.
The body is black.
Sex differences: Females has not the nice light blue. They are bluish and grey.
Mix-up - Blue Mormon was already state butterfly
Mix-up - Blue Mormon was already state butterfly
Jun 24, 2015, 03.50 AM IST
The announcement by the state wildlife board's (SWB) to declare Blue Mormon species of butterfly as the state butterfly seems to be a mix-up as the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board (MSBB) has already been using and promoting it as state insect on its manuals since 2013.
When asked, MSBB member-secretary Dilip Singh said, "Yes, it was on our manuals since 2013. Though we have been focusing on it as a flagship biodiversity species, formal proposal was only sent early this month by the chairman."
After 2013, at least three wildlife board meetings have been held, but former members say this subject never came up on the agenda.
On Monday, MSBB chairman Vilas Bardekar had said that it was for the first time a butterfly has been declared state insect.
However, it seems that none in the MSBB office seemed to have told Bardekar about it.
