9 breathtaking butterfly species of India and where they are found

India provides a home to over 1,500 species, 10% of the world’s butterfly diversity. Butterflies are such beautiful species with different patterns and colors and graceful flights that they will definitely leave you awe-struck!
Butterflies are not just beautiful creatures; they also support plant reproduction and agricultural productivity. Their presence and absence can help indicate any climate shifts and habitat changes also.
Today, we are going to take a journey through India and look at the most beautiful species of butterflies:

This species of butterfly is the second largest in India and has a wingspan of 140–190 mm. This butterfly species is mostly found in the Western Ghats, mainly in Karnataka and is also the state butterfly here. Other places include Kerala, southern Maharashtra, and parts of Goa at an elevation of up to 3,000 ft in evergreen, deciduous, scrub, and agricultural zones. The male butterfly of this species has black and golden yellow wings, while females are larger but are less vibrant. One can mostly spot the Southern Birdwing during early morning or late evening.

This species is India’s second largest butterfly and has shimmering black wings with blue markings all over it. This species is native to India and Sri Lanka and is commonly spotted in the Western Ghats and Eastern India. It has also been recognized as Maharashtra’s state butterfly and has a wingspan of 120–150 mm. This species often visits citrus plants and symbolizes the beauty of nature, interdependence of ecosystems, and the need for conservation.

This species has stained-glass-like patterns with white, yellow, and red colors on the wings. It is considered that their underwings have bright colors on them. This species can be found all over India except in the deserts up to 7,000 ft. Common Jezebel thrives in gardens, woodlands, and hill forest ecosystems and is a weak flyer. Lantana flowers mostly attract all kinds of species, and this butterfly species is one of them.

This species has a large swallowtail and black wings with yellow and blue markings all over it, and on the underside, it has a pattern of blue and red spots. This species is native to the Indian subcontinent, mostly found in the Himalayan foothills and surrounding areas. They prefer dense forests and tropical climates. This species can also be found in Nepal and Bhutan. It has a wingspan of 120 to 130 mm. This species is considered to have cultural significance, as the name is linked to Lord Krishna and the peacock feather, which symbolizes beauty, spirituality, and connection to nature.

Common Nawab is a butterfly species found in the Himalayas from Kashmir to Sikkim, hills of Central India, Eastern Ghats, Western Ghats, and Southern India, as well as in Northeast India in Assam and Cachar. The upperside of their wings is black with a yellow band on them, the hindwings have a row of pale-yellow spots, and the tails are bluish grey in color. This species has an extremely rapid flight and is seen near overripe fruits. IUCN has listed this species as ‘Least Concern’.

This species has a dark swallowtail and blue-green color bands on the hindwings. This species is the state butterfly of Kerala and is found in the Western Ghats of India in the foothills and the coastal areas of the region. This species is mostly known worldwide for its breathtaking beauty and has a wingspan of 107–155 mm. This butterfly is known for having an exceptionally swift flight compared to other butterflies.

This species has black wings with green scales on it and is a stunning swallowtail butterfly. This species is mostly found in rainforests and moist evergreen forests, mostly near streams in the Himalayas, the hills of Assam, and parts of the Western Ghats of India. This butterfly has a wingspan of 11–13 cm. It is also considered that females are slightly paler and duller than males. This butterfly species serves as an important pollinator, as it transfers pollen between flowers as it feeds on nectar.

This butterfly species is slow-flying and has black wings with white streaks on the forewings and red and white spots on the hindwings. This species is mostly found in various habitats like tropical forests, grasslands, scrublands, and even urban areas. It can be found in the Western Ghats and South Indian hills in India. This butterfly is mostly seen in Indian gardens during and after the monsoon season.

This species of butterfly is a fast flyer with dark wings that have bright green spots and is also known as the green-spotted triangle. This species thrives in forests, woodlands, and even in urban gardens, mainly in areas with ample rainfall and the presence of its host plants. This species is considered to be constantly fluttering its wings even when feeding. Their coloration acts as a warning to its predators.
In India, this butterfly is found in Southern India to Gujarat, in Northern India in Uttaranchal and Arunachal Pradesh, as well as in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.