GOLDEN BIRDWING

IN NEWS:

• Golden Birdwing has been confirmed to be India’s largest butterfly.

ABOUT THE BUTTERFLY:

• With a wingspan of 194 mm, Golden Birdwing is India’s largest butterfly, as per a new study.
• The record was held for 88 years by a species called Southern Birdwing (190 mm) that Brigadier William Harry Evans, a British military officer and lepidopterist, had recorded in 1932.
• Golden Big wing is found in northern India, Nepal, Burma, China, Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, Taiwan, Cambodia, peninsular Malaysia and Indonesia.
• Current species was recorded from Uttarakhand.
• It is classified as “Least concern” under IUCN red data list.

PRELIMS QUESTION:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Golden Birdwing butterfly, recently in news:

1. It is endemic to India.
2. It is considered critically endangered by IUCN.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct:

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer to Prelims question