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3 contenders for national butterfly status
Why is it in News?
- Krishna Peacock, Indian Jezebel, and Orange Oakleaf are 3 contenders for National butterfly status.
Details:
- Krishna Peacock:
(1) It is found in large numbers in the Himalayas.
(2) It has a peculiarly large swallowtail.
(3) It has iridescent green scales diffract light to coat itself in radiance.
- Orange Oakleaf:
(1) It is commonly known as ‘dead leaf’.
(2) It is due to its ability to camouflage as a dry autumn leaf while striking a stationary pose with its wings closed.
(3) It enables the species to prevent it from being devoured by birds.
(4) It is found in the moist forests of northern Western Ghats, central, northern and northeastern parts of India.
(5) It is known to exhibit polyphenism as it assumes specific colour and size during dry and wet seasons.
- Indian Jezebel:
(1) It is a medium-sized pierid butterfly.
(2) It is found in many areas of south and southeast Asia, especially in the non-arid regions of India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand.
(3) They are generally found all over India, except in the desert tracts, and up to an altitude of 7,000 feet (2,100 m) in the hills.