Common Mime

Common Mime - Papilio clytia Linnaeus

Wingspan: 90-120mm.

common mime is a tail-less swallowtail. It has two forms clytia which mimics the Common Indian Crow and the form dissimilis which mimics the Blue Tiger.

Common Mime Butterfly

Common mime is usually found in the hilly regions. It mainly feeds from flowers of shrubs and small trees. Males engage in mud puddling.

Caterpillar of common mime is velvety black or dark green rests on upper side of leafs.

 

Caterpillar of Common Mime Butterfly

Pupa resembles a dead twig about an inch long, broken off irregularly at the tip.

 

Pupa of Common Mime Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Plants of family Lauraceae

Alseodaphne semicarpifolia, Cinnamomum camphora, Cinnamomum macrocarpum, Litsea chinensis and Litsea deccanensis.

Common Mormon

Common Mormon  Papilio polytes Linnaeus


Wingspan: 90 - 100mm.

Common mormon is the  most common species among swallow tail butterflies. Male is black with an array of white spots along the central areas of the hind-wing. The border of the fore wing is marked with smaller white spots.

 

Common Mormon female laying eggs

 Females have three forms, the form cyrus similar to the male and the romulus form mimicking Crimson Rose butterfly. The form stichius is a mimic of Common Rose Butterfly.

 Malabar Banded Swallow Tail

 Malabar Banded Swallow Tail an endemic butterfly of Western Ghats is a similar species to the Common Mormon.

Common Mormon Butterfly Emerging from Pupa

Common Mormon is a regular sight in city garden to forest because of the abundance of larva host plant and nectaring plants. Males often engage in mud puddling; which is a common sight at riverbeds and wet soil.

 

Egg of Common Mormon Butterfly

The eggs are laid on the upper surface of the tender leaves and shots.

 

Caterpillar of Common Mormon Butterfly

First instars of the caterpillar look likes to bird-drops. Pupas are varid in colurs from green to yellow and dry leaves' colour.

Pupa of Common Mormon Butterfly

Larva host plants: Citrus sp. Murraya koeigii, M. paniculata, Glycosmis arborea etc.

Blue Mormon

Blue Mormon Papilio polymnestor Cramer.

Life Cycle of Blue Mormon Butterfly

 

Wingspan:120 - 150 mm.

A large black and blue butterfly with red spots at the base of its wing. One of the second largest butterflies in South India. Very common in forests, midland and coastal area. 

 Blue Mormon Butterfly

Regular visitor of flowers of Clearodendron sp, Mussanda sp. and Ixora etc which have long corolla tubes.. Male likes sunshine and females are shadow dwellers. 

Blue Mormon Butterfly Mudpuddling

Males like mud puddling along with other butterflies. It also basks in shady pathways with its wings spread flat. A common butterfly in cities also because of the abundance of the larva host plants and flowers for nectar.

Blue Mormon Butterfly Egg - ready to hatch

The eggs are laid on the upper surface of the leaves or on tender shoots. The eggs are spherical and light green when in fresh, later turning orange yellow.

Caterpillar of Blue Mormon Butterfly

 The caterpillars are very similar to the Common Mormon.

Pupa of Blue Mormon Butterfly 

Larva host plants: Citrus sp., Atalantia racemosa, A. wightii, Glycosmis arborea etc.

Southern Birdwing - Troides minos Cramer

Southern birdwing butterfly with a wingspan of 140 – 190 mm is the largest of southern Indian butterflies. Female of this species is larger than male but is less beautiful; a series of large triangular spots on the yellow areas of the hind-wings which lack in the male helps distinguish males and females. Males are bright black and golden yellow.

 

Southern Birdwing Butterfly

A regular visitor of home gardens; fond of nectar from Mussanda, Lantana and Ixora sp. Etc. Usually common in monsoon and post monsoon seasons and sharing a varied of habitats from forests to coastal areas.

Southen Birdwing Female

 Eggs are dark orange in color and are laid on the leaves and tender shoots of the Aristolochia plants.  Aristolochia indica, A. tagla and Thottea siliquosa.

Southern birdwing butterfly egg

 

Egg of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Flight

Southern birdwing butterfly is a strong flier and it flies high above tree tops in the forests. It flies in a leisurely manner, circling and sailing over the plants.

Habits

It starts flying very early in the morning. Is very fond of nectar and readily visits Mussanda, Lantana and Ixora sp. Etc.

Caterpillar

Southern birdwing caterpillar is similar to that of Common Rose and is velvety maroon – red with a shiny black head.

 

Caterpillar of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Pupa

Pupa of southern birdwing is also similar to that of common rose butterfly. It is pale brown or green and is marked with fine brown striations and minute markings.

Pupa of Southern Birdwing Butterfly

Larval Host Plants

Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia tagala, Thottea siliquosa.

Common Rose Pachliopta aristolochiae Fabricius

Common Rose is one of the most beautiful swallow tail butterflies to be found in India. With a wingspan of 80 -110 mm it is also a large butterfly. It is black in color with a crimson body and has a large white area on its hind wings. The outer margin of its hind wings has a series of deep red or brownish red spots. Both sexes of this butterfly species look alike.

 

 Crimson Rose Butterfly

Crimson rose and Malabar rose are two species that look alike the Common rose. But crimson rose is larger, brighter and it also has two white central bands on its fore wings. And Malabar rose has a much larger white patch on its hid wings and is only found in southern and central western ghats. The stichius form of the Common mormon female mimics Common rose.

Flight

Flight of the common rose butterfly is slow but straight and long sustained, usually flies at a height of 3 – 4 meters from the ground but when traveling long distances it attains heights up to 10 – 15 meters.

Habits

Common rose butterfly is fond of flowers especially of Lantana, Cleorodendron, Cosmos, Zinnia etc. It occasionally visits wet soil patches, baskes with its wings spread out.

Newly Emerged Common Rose Butterfly

Newly emerged common rose butterfly

Caterpillar

Caterpillar of common rose butterfly is velvety maroon in color and has a white band on its abdominal segments. It is bulky, has fleshy protuberances on the body and moves very slowly. Caterpillars are very similar to that of Southern Birdwing but smaller and with out pale ash markings on the body.

Pupa

Pupa of common rose butterfly is brownish in color, has a large flat semi circular projections on the back of abdomen, thorax and head. It is usually supported by a body band which is attached to the stick where it hangs.

Larval Host Plants

Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia tagala, Aristolochia bracteolate and Thottea siliquosa (Aristolochiaceae).

Crimson Rose - Pachlipta hector Linnaeus

 

Crimson Rose is one among the larger varieties of butterflies found in India. It is a large butterfly with glossy black color and has two broad white bands on its fore wings and bright crimson spots on the tailed hind wings which help identify the species.

 Crimson Rose Butterfly

 A very similar species to Crimson Rose butterfly is the Common Rose; but they lack the white bands on their forewings and have elongated white spots on their hind wing. The romulus form of Common Mormon female is a mimic of Crimson Rose butterfly but is smaller in size, black in color and have duller shades.

Flight

Crimson Rose has a slow, fluttering but steady flight and flies faster, stronger and higher.

Habits

Readily visits nectar sources like Lantana, Cleorodendron s. etc. Basks with wings spread flat. Have strong migrational instincts.

 Wingspan :- 90 -110mm.

Caterpillar

Caterpillar of Crimson Rose butterfly is purplish black or blackish brown with a black head and orange red tuercles, and a transverse yellowish white band on segments 6 to 8 is very prominent.

 Caterpillar of Crimson Rose Butterfly

Pupa

Pupa of Crimson Rose butterfly is pinkish brown with darker, expanded wing cases. The wing like expansion on the abdomen is distinctive.

Larval Host Plants

The romulus form of Common Mormon female mimicking Crimson Rose Butterfly Laying Eggs

Aristolochia indica, Aristolochia tagla, Aristolochia bracteolate and Thottea siliquosa (Aristolochiaceae).