UPSC Prelims 2016 Q90: Environment & Ecology – Biodiversity & Conservation
Recently, for the first time in our country,
which of the following States has declared a particular butterfly as ‘State Butterfly’?
- (a) Arunachal Pradesh
- (b) Himachal Pradesh
- (c) Karnataka
- (d) Maharashtra
Answer: (d) Maharashtra
Explanation
First State Butterfly in India
In June 2015, Maharashtra became the first State to declare a State Butterfly.
It chose the Blue Mormon (Papilio polymnestor).
| Feature of the Blue Mormon | Detail |
|---|---|
| Size | India's second-largest butterfly, after the Southern Birdwing |
| Look | Velvet black wings with bright blue spots |
| Found in | Western Ghats, South India and Sri Lanka |
State butterflies declared later:
| State | Butterfly |
|---|---|
| Karnataka | Southern Birdwing |
| Uttarakhand | Common Peacock |
| Kerala | Malabar Banded Peacock |
| Tamil Nadu | Tamil Yeoman |
Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh were not the first.
Answer: (d) Maharashtra.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Arunachal Pradesh was not the first to declare a State Butterfly.
- (b) Incorrect. Himachal Pradesh was not the first to do so.
- (c) Incorrect. Karnataka named the Southern Birdwing, but after Maharashtra.
- (d) CORRECT. Maharashtra was the first, declaring the Blue Mormon in 2015.
Key point
Maharashtra (2015): first State to declare a State Butterfly, the Blue Mormon; India's second-largest butterfly, found in the Western Ghats.
Remember
First State Butterfly: Blue Mormon, Maharashtra.
Common mistakes
- Guessing Arunachal Pradesh because of its rich butterfly diversity.
- Confusing the Blue Mormon with the Southern Birdwing of Karnataka.
- Thinking a national butterfly has been officially declared.
Exam tip
Blue Mormon = Maharashtra = first. Karnataka's Southern Birdwing came later.
Sources
- Maharashtra State Board for Wildlife — Declaration of Blue Mormon as State Butterfly (June 2015)
- Bombay Natural History Society — Butterflies of India