Kaiser-i-hind (Swallowtail) by Ken _Gilliland

DAZ|Studio • Insects • posted on Jan 03, 2024

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Description

Here's another sneak peek at my upcoming butterfly sets; this time from "Butterflies of the World Volume 2: Swallowtails" The Kaiser-i-Hind is much sought after by butterfly collectors for its beauty and rarity. Its common name literally means "Emperor of India". It found in small pockets of Nepal, Bhutan and along the Eastern Himalayas in India (West Bengal, Meghalaya, Assam, Sikkim and Manipur). It is also found in northern Myanmar, northern Vietnam and in the Sichuan province of China. It is a high-altitude forest species that occurs at medium and higher elevations in the Himalayas from 6,000 to 10,000 feet (1,800 to 3,000 m) in well-wooded terrain. In the northeastern part of its range (in India), much of its forest habitat has been degraded by “slash and burn” cultivation. The butterfly is rarely found in these degraded patches. It flies at tree-top level until it chooses to descend if there is strong morning sunlight. When overcast, males are known to descend and sit on low vegetation, where its disruptive, dull underside coloration makes it difficult to distinguish. Females are known to fly in overcast and rainy weather also. Males visit damp patches and also suck moisture from leaves. Females rarely visit flowers or damp patches. It is often found on forest clearings and open spaces flanked by forests on hills and mountains. These are mostly males, who establish territories and aggressively drive away other intruding males, and stopping virgin females in search of mates. This “Near Threatened” swallowtail is protected by Indian and Nepalese law, however the protection enforcement in these countries not effective because collectors are willing to pay high prices. The Kaiser-i-Hind would be a keystone species for conservation of high-altitude forest. The conservation programs in India is complicated by the fact that most of the responsibility for conservation action runs at the state level and not at the national level.