Kaiser-i-Hind Butterfly

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    • Recently, Arunachal Pradesh has approved the large, brightly coloured Kaiser-i-Hind as the State butterfly.
      • The Cabinet also adopted the Pakke Tiger Reserve 2047 declaration on climate change-resilient and responsive Arunachal Pradesh aimed at lowering emissions and sustainable development.

    Key Points

    • An elusive swallowtail butterfly carrying ‘India’ in its name and found in next-door China will become the State butterfly of Arunachal Pradesh.
    • It has a strong and fast flight. It usually flies at tree-top level but when there is strong morning sunlight it descends to sit on low vegetation.
    • Location: Kaiser-i-Hind (Teinopalpus imperialis) literally means Emperor of India. 
      • This butterfly with a 90-120 mm wingspan is found in six states along the Eastern Himalayas at elevations from 6,000-10,000 feet in well-wooded terrain.
      • The butterfly also flutters in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and southern China.

    Significance

    • The proposal was made with a view to boosting butterfly tourism and saving the species from extinction in the State.
    • Although the Kaiser-i-Hind is protected under Schedule II of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, it is hunted for supply to butterfly collectors.
    • The State butterfly tag can translate into its habitat conservation.

    Other Important Key Facts

    • A Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing is India’s largest, a record an unknown specimen had held for 88 years.
      • The smallest is the Quaker (Neopithecops zalmora) with a wingspan of 18 mm and forewing length of 8 mm.
    • Other State Butterflies:
      • Maharashtra was the first in the country to announce its state butterfly (Blue Mormon).
      • Uttarakhand has Common Peacock.
      • Karnataka has the Southern Birdwing.
      • Kerala has Malabar banded peacock or buddha butterfly.
      • Tamil Nadu has declared the Tamil Yeoman Butterfly species (endemic to the Western Ghats) as the state butterfly.

    Source: TH

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