Blue Mormon is Maharashtra’s State butterfly

Last month the Maharashtra Government declared the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor) as the State butterfly. Blue Mormom is the second largest butterfly found in India after the southern birdwing. With this, Maharashtra became India’s first state to have a State butterfly.

Blue Mormom 

It is a large, swallowtail black coloured velvet winged butterfly. It has bright blue spots on its wings and red spots in the body. The species of this butterfly is primarily found in the Western Ghats of Maharashtra, South India and coastal belts. Earlier, the state government had declared the Yellow-footed Green Pigeon as state bird, Giant Squirrel as state animal, Mango as state tree and Jarul as the state flower.

Photo by Nature Loader on WikiMedia