Maharashtra Wildlife Board declares Blue Mormon as state butterfly

Recently, at a meeting of the State Wildlife Board in Mumbai, the Blue Mormon was declared as the state butterfly. Maharashtra has become the first state in the country to have a 'state butterfly'. Thanekars are elated with this move, as the Blue Mormon is commonly visible in the lake city and nature lovers in Thane are familiar with this butterfly.

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. 

Rajendra Ovalekar, who has started Ovalekar Butterfly garden in Thane, said, "This is an appropriate season, to spot the Blue Mormon, from September till December, due to heavy rains in the hilly areas. The butterfly breed more at the ground level. Around three generations are at the ground level, it's only the fourth generation manages to survive and fly back to the hilly areas post monsoons." If you visit Ovalekar wadi in the next few months, you are most likely to spot a Blue Mormon.

It is reportedly, the second largest butterfly found in India, just smaller than the southern bird wing. "Nature-lovers have always been fascinated by butterfly. The state is home to nearly 225 varieties of butterflies and home to about 15 per cent of their population in the country. No State in India has ever declared a state butterfly and the species have been one of the most neglected," said a statement from the office of State Forest Department.