Previous Year Question
Recently, for the first time in our country, which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’?
Arunachal Pradesh
Himachal Pradesh
Karnataka
Maharashtra
Correct Answer: D
Detailed Solution
Maharashtra became the first State in India to officially declare a butterfly as its ‘State Butterfly’.
Maharashtra declared the Blue Mormon as its State Butterfly in the year 2015.
The scientific name of the Blue Mormon is Papilio polymnestor.
It is a large swallowtail butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae.
The Blue Mormon is one of the largest butterflies found in India.
Its wings are predominantly black with bright blue markings.
It is found mainly in the Western Ghats and some parts of peninsular India.
In Maharashtra, it can be seen in forest areas as well as gardens and tree-covered urban areas.
Its larvae generally use plants belonging to the citrus family as host plants.
Adult butterflies obtain nectar from flowers and can contribute to pollination.
Butterflies are sensitive to environmental changes and can be useful as indicators of biodiversity.
The objective of declaring the Blue Mormon as the State Butterfly was to increase awareness about the conservation of butterflies and their habitats.
Its recognition as a State symbol encourages the study and conservation of butterfly diversity.