Description:
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The Southern Birdwing (Troides minos) is a large and striking Swallowtail butterfly endemic to Peninsular India. It is the largest butterfly of India, found in southern India.
The fore wings are black. The veins are bordered by white colour. The underside of Troides minos is very similar to the upside. The hind wings of Troides minos are orange or golden. The veins and the edge of the wing are black. The underside is very similar to the upside. The body (abdomen) is yellowish, but the underside is yellow. Head and thorax are black. The underside of thorax has a red hair-coat. |
Sex differences:
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The female covers the upper range of the wing-span. It is larger than the male. The basic colour of the female is dark-brown. The veins are bordered by white colour. There is a golden area with dark veins on the hind wings. The golden area contains a chain of black spots. The underside is a copy from upside.
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Scientific Name:
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Troides minos
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Common Name:
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Sahyadri Birdwing (Southern Birdwing)
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Order:
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Lepidoptera
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Family:
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Papilionidae
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Sub Family:
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Papilioninae
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Wing Span:
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140-190 mm
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Status:
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Locally very common
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Range:
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Western Ghats and parts of the Eastern Ghats
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Goa:
Kerala:
Maharashtra:
All states:
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Habitat:
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Found up to 3000 feet in the Western Ghats. Found in diverse habitats from low-land evergreen forests near the coast to mixed deciduous forests, dry scrub and agricultural fields.
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Habit:
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Active during early morning hours. It is seen sailing as high as 30 to 40 feet. It flies in a leisurely manner circling around jungle clearings and also frequents hill-tops. The only food source is nectar.
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Host Plants:
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Aristolochia indica, Aristo littoralis, Thottea siliquosa
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Nectar Plants:
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Mussaenda, Ixora and Lantana
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Source & More Details:
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| Troides minos - Sahyadri Birdwing (Southern Birdwing) |
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| Troides minos - Sahyadri Birdwing (Southern Birdwing) |
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