Malabar Raven Butterfly
Common NameMalabar Raven Butterfly
Scientific NamePapilio dravidarum
FamilyPapilionidae
SubfamilyPapilioninae
Wingspan (mm)100
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark brown, white, cream
HabitatEvergreen and semi-evergreen forests
Geographic RangeWestern Ghats, India
Host PlantsMicromelum minutum, Clausena indica, Glycosmis pentaphylla
Flight PeriodThroughout the year, peaking during monsoon and post-monsoon
Flight Stylegliding
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesUndergoes complete metamorphosis; eggs are laid on host plants, larvae feed on leaves, pupate into a chrysalis, and emerge as adults.
Identification TipsDistinguished by its overall dark brown coloration and the prominent, crescent-shaped white and cream spots on the hindwing margin, especially within its endemic range in the Western Ghats.
Description
A large, dark brown butterfly with a distinctive series of white and cream-colored spots along the outer margin of its hindwings and smaller white spots on the forewings.
