About– Arunachal Pradesh has approved “Kaiser-i-Hind”(Teinopalpus imperialis) as the State butterfly.
- The literal meaning of its name is ‘The Emperor of India’. It has shining patches of greens, yellows and blacks.
Conservation Status:
- IUCN– Near Threatened.
- Indian Wildlife Protection Act,1972– Schedule-II(Part II).
- CITES– Appendix II.
Habitat:
- Indian habitat– It is found along the Eastern Himalayas (West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim and Manipur) in India. In these areas, it occurs at medium and higher elevations from 6000 to 10,000 feet in well-wooded terrain.
- Global habitat– The butterfly is also found in Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Laos, Vietnam and southern China.
Characteristics- It usually flies at tree-top level but when there is strong morning sunlight it descends to sit on low vegetation. ‘April to July’ is the period when it is in flight. Its eggs are laid on the underside of leaves.
Threat- It is hunted to be supplied to butterfly collectors.
