These 11 Amazing species of Butterflies and Moths are found in India!
Butterflies and moths share many common things such as body, wings, resting posture, cocoon and they both belong to the order Lepidoptera. India has some of the most beautiful and amazing species of butterflies and moths. Do you know Butterfiles pollinate flowers.
In today’s post, we will know about 11 amazing species of butterflies and moths in India, so let’s know:-
Kaisar-i-Hind Butterfly
The literal meaning of Kaisar-e-Hind is Emperor of India. The Kaisar-i-Hind butterfly species has a wingspan of 90–120 mm. This butterfly is also found in the northern states of Assam, Sikkim, Manipur and a dominant species in the high altitude forests. Its scientific name is ‘Teinopalpus Imperialis’.
The state cabinet chaired by the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh approved the Kaiser-i-Hind butterfly as the state butterfly.
Golden Birdwing
The Himalayan butterfly ‘Golden Birdwing’ has recently been given the status of India’s largest butterfly. The scientific name of ‘Golden Birdwing’ is Troides aeacus. The wingspan of this species is up to 194 mm. This species of butterfly is found in Garhwal to the north-east state and also in Taiwan, China etc.
Earlier the ‘Southern Birdwing’ had the status of being the largest butterfly of India Golden Birdwing was discovered as the largest butterfly of India after 88 years. Earlier, the status of being the largest butterfly of India was given to ‘Southern Birdwing’ in 1932.
Blue Mormon
It is a butterfly found in South India and Sri Lanka. It is the “state butterfly” of the Indian state of Maharashtra. With a wingspan of 120–150 mm, it is the fourth largest butterfly of India.
The upper wings of the male are velvety black. The forewing has a postdiscal band composed of interneurular broad blue stripes that gradually shorten and become obsolete.
West Himalayan Common Peacock
The Common Peacock butterfly is the state butterfly of Uttarakhand. Its scientific name is “Papilio bianor”. Common Peacock butterfly is the state symbol of Uttarakhand. Common Peacock is the fifth state symbol of Uttarakhand.
Its three subspecies are also known as West Himalayan Common Peacock, East Himalayan Common Peacock and Indo-Chinese Common Peacock. This butterfly Common Peacock of Uttarakhand got the status of state butterfly as the fifth symbol of the state on 07 November 2016.
Common Mormons
The common moth is a common species and one of the most common butterflies of India. Its scientific name is Papilio polytes. The Mormon butterfly is known for mimicking the colors of the common rose and crimson rose.
Difference Between Butterflies and Moths
Butterflies and moths have many similarities which makes it a bit difficult to identify. Both butterflies and moths share different behavior in terms of appearance, habitat and timing of activity.
Most butterflies are diurnal and moths are nocturnal. The antennae of butterflies are thicker from the front. While kites are like branched, threadlike or like the wings of birds.
The abdomen of moths is quite thick, whereas that of butterflies is thin. Egg, larva, pupa and adult are the four stages found in the life cycle of both butterflies and moths.
Butterfly pupae are attached to leaves or twigs, while moth pupae are encased in a cocoon most often buried between dry husks or in loose soil in the ground. Some are also found clinging to the bark of trees.
Atlas Moth
The Atlas moth is the largest species of moth found in the forests of India and Asia. The Atlas moth is one of the largest lepidopterans, with a wingspan of up to 24 cm (9.4 in) and a wing surface area of about 160 cm.
Like most Lepidoptera, females are significantly larger and heavier than males. The Atlas moth is cultivated along with the Indian tasar silkmoth in India for their silk.
Indian Moon Moth
The Indian moon moth or Indian luna moth is a beautiful moth species of saturnid moth from Asia. It is often reared for its eggs or cocoons which are available from commercial sources. They fly mainly at night. The insect is widespread, occurring from India to Japan and then south to Nepal, Sri Lanka, Borneo and other islands in East Asia. Several subspecies live in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Philippines, Russia, China, Java, Sri Lanka and Borneo.
Army Green Moth
The Army Green Moth or Oleander Hawk Moth is a migratory species and is found in India on Alstonia scholaris trees and feeds on a variety of flowers.
Assam Silkmoth
Antheria acemensis, known as the muga silkworm as a larva and the Assam silkworm as an adult, is a moth of the family Saturnidae. It is found in Assam in Northeast India, where 99% of its production occurs.
Its silk, one of the varieties of Tussar silk, is a lustrous golden colour. Like other silk moths, the female has a larger abdomen and thinner antennae than the male. The larvae are brightly colored and are monogamous like other silk moths.
Indian Tasar Silkworm
The Indian Tasar Silkworm is cultivated in India to produce tasar silk and feeds mainly on Terminalia or Shala trees. Tussar silk, also known as wild or kosa silk, is known for its rich texture and natural deep gold colour, India is the second largest producer of tussar silk and produces the Bhagalpur saree.