Great Windmill
Common NameGreat Windmill
Scientific NameByasa dasarada
FamilyPapilionidae
SubfamilyPapilioninae
Wingspan (mm)100
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblack, red, white
HabitatEvergreen and deciduous forests, hilly regions, near streams
Geographic RangeHimalayas (Kashmir to Northeast India), Nepal, Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, southern China, Taiwan
Host PlantsAristolochia griffithii, Aristolochia tagala, Aristolochia debilis
Flight PeriodMarch to November (multiple broods, year-round in tropical areas)
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid singly on host plant leaves. Larvae are dark with fleshy spines, feeding on Aristolochia. Pupae are typically green or brown, camouflaged as twigs or leaves.
Identification TipsKey features include the crimson-red, black-spotted body, black wings with white discal spots and pinkish-red submarginal lunules on the hindwings, and distinct tails.
Description
A large, striking black butterfly with a crimson-red, black-spotted body. Its hindwings feature a series of white discal spots and a submarginal row of pinkish-red lunules, along with prominent tails.
