Sri Lanka Birdwing, our national butterfly
Article number-06
N.P.A.S. JanashanthaSri Lanka is famed for its diverse natural habitats and wildlife. Endemic species are those that are found in just one region and nowhere else in the world. There are lot of magnificent endemic animal species in our island including butterflies. At present Sri Lanka is inhabited by 247 butterfly species. Out of it 32 are endemic. Each of them is special in its own way and they must be protected. This article is based on endemic butterfly; the Sri Lankan Birdwing or Ceylon Birdwing. The Sri Lankan Birdwing, scientifically Troides darsius is an endemic, migratory species of butterflies found in Sri Lanka that belongs to the Family Papilionidea; the swallowtails. It is considered to be the largest butterfly in the country and the national butterfly of Sri Lanka.Wingspan is greater than 100mm ranging averagely 150-180mm.According to the IUCN Red Data list 2012, it is a least concerned and herbivore species. It is a common butterfly in low-country wet zone, and scarce towards the hills and the dry zone. It prefers forested areas, but also seen in lush home gardens. It flies very high by its strong wing beats. Sometimes, descends down to flowers at lower levels. It likes to feed on flowers at high levels. Specially attracted to Mussenda frondosa flowers. It prefers Aristolochia indica as the larval food plant. Threatened by deforestation and butterfly conservation strategies have to be implemented to conserve them such as amending laws, maintaining butterfly gardens and awareness programs.
N.P.A.S. JanashanthaSri Lanka is famed for its diverse natural habitats and wildlife. Endemic species are those that are found in just one region and nowhere else in the world. There are lot of magnificent endemic animal species in our island including butterflies. At present Sri Lanka is inhabited by 247 butterfly species. Out of it 32 are endemic. Each of them is special in its own way and they must be protected. This article is based on endemic butterfly; the Sri Lankan Birdwing or Ceylon Birdwing. The Sri Lankan Birdwing, scientifically Troides darsius is an endemic, migratory species of butterflies found in Sri Lanka that belongs to the Family Papilionidea; the swallowtails. It is considered to be the largest butterfly in the country and the national butterfly of Sri Lanka.Wingspan is greater than 100mm ranging averagely 150-180mm.According to the IUCN Red Data list 2012, it is a least concerned and herbivore species. It is a common butterfly in low-country wet zone, and scarce towards the hills and the dry zone. It prefers forested areas, but also seen in lush home gardens. It flies very high by its strong wing beats. Sometimes, descends down to flowers at lower levels. It likes to feed on flowers at high levels. Specially attracted to Mussenda frondosa flowers. It prefers Aristolochia indica as the larval food plant. Threatened by deforestation and butterfly conservation strategies have to be implemented to conserve them such as amending laws, maintaining butterfly gardens and awareness programs.
