he Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) is a large, swallowtail butterfly endemic to South India. It has a wingspan of 140 to 190 mm, which makes it the largest butterfly in India. The species is more common in the Western Ghats, which is a biodiversity hotspot .This particular butterfly is much sought after by collectors and is a highlight of many butterfly-tours in the Western Ghats.
Nitin R., a butterfly enthusiast, says “The Southern Birdwing is found mostly in the Western Ghats with sporadic reports from other places in South India. In Bangalore, we have seen it very rarely. However, since 2015, the butterfly has been spotted regularly at two locations in Bangalore: NCBS (GKVK campus) and Bangalore University (Jnana Bharathi campus) as well as single sightings near IIM Bangalore and Camp GeeDee.”
Nitin goes on to explain that there are good breeding numbers of the butterflies at NCBS and Bangalore University. They feed on Aristolochia indica (Aristolochiaceae), the same host plant that the common rose and crimson rose butterflies consume. However, the Birdwing populations in Bangalore University Campus is under threat as the university clears the forest patch from time to time, by burning, thereby destroying the host plants and killing the eggs, caterpillars and pupae of the butterfly.
Haneesh K.M., another enthusiast, says, “Southern Birdwings are really big and you can spot them easily from far. You can spot them in the highly-vegetated areas of the Western Ghats after the monsoon. The male butterflies among them are known to fly very high, while the females restrict their movement to the host plants.”
He explains that the butterfly usually lays its eggs on aristolochia creepers and their caterpillars are spiny, stout, reddish-brown with a transverse white band. Once they mature, the caterpillars transform into golden pupa, which are usually attached to twigs or leaves. When disturbed the pupa vibrate to scare off attackers.
