BLUE MORMON BUTTERFLY Papilio polymnestor Papilionidae : Swallowtails
It is a tailless butterfly with head, thorax and abdomen uniformly blackish brown. Can be identified by its swift, dipping flight and the broad pale blue patch in the hind wings. Unlike other swallowtails, it comes readily to foul substances. It frequents flowers especially of Mussaenda frondosa, Ixora coccinea, Jasminum spp. and Asystasia gangetica. Has a rapid unidirectional flight and frequently changes course, hopping up and down in its flight path. Difficult to catch. Known to bask in the sun. Attracted to damp patch and has greater tolerance to other butterflies and humans while lapping up the mineral rich moisture. He can often found drinking on wet mud or sand at the commencement of the monsoon. At rest, keeps the wings butterfly is most common in heavy rainfall areas, such as evergreen forests. Occurs throughout the year but more common in the monsoon and immediately after it. Also common in deciduous forests and wooded urban areas, primarily due to the cultivation of its host plants, the Citrus species. Found in South India, Sri lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and eggs are laid singly on the upper surfaces of the leaves on rutaceous plants at ten feet or so above the ground. The newly laid egg is spherical and light green but darkens over time to orange-yellow. The pupa also resembles that of the Common Mormon but is much larger in size and can be easily distinguished by the prominent folds on the lower side of the abdominal protsion.
Size: 5080px × 3386px
Location: Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai, India
Photo credit: © Zeeshan Mirza / Alamy / Afripics
License: Royalty Free
Model Released: No
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