Species in news: Golden Birdwing

Species in news: Golden Birdwing

Part of: GS Prelims and Mains III – Environment – Biodiversity and Conservation

In news:

• A Himalayan butterfly named Golden Birdwing is now India’s largest after 88 years.
• Golden Birdwing is larger than the Southern Birdwing, which was earlier considered to be the largest.
• The females (Golden Birdwing) are larger than the males.
• While the female Golden Birdwing was recorded from Didihat in Uttarakhand, the largest male was from the Wankhar Butterfly Museum in Meghalaya capital Shillong.

Pic: Golden Birdwing

Do you know?

• Southern Birdwing is listed as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List.

• The species is more common in the Western Ghats of south India and is the state butterfly of Karnataka, India.