Butterflying - Papilio polytes (Common Mormon)

Butterflying - Papilio polytes (Common Mormon)

Papilio polytes, the common Mormon, is a Jet black butterfly with row of white spots along the middle part of hindwing. it is a common species of swallowtail butterfly widely distributed across Asia.

This butterfly is known for the mimicry displayed by the numerous forms of its females which mimic inedible red-bodied swallowtails, such as the common rose and the crimson rose.

The male has one morph only. It is a dark-coloured swallow-tailed butterfly. The upper forewing has a series of white spots decreasing in size towards the apex. The upper hindwing has a complete discal band of elongated white spots. It may or may not have marginal red crescents. The males are generally smaller in size than the females but not always.

The female of the common Mormon is polymorphic. it has several forms or morphs.

Form cyrus (strongly marked red crescents), 

Form stichius (mimics the common rose very closely) 

Form romulus ( mimics the common rose , but the models are red-bodied and the mimics are black-bodied)

The pictures here are of Form romulus.

The male common Mormon is a very common visitor to gardens where he will be seen hovering over flowers when the sun is shining. It is a restless insect, zigzagging fast and straight close to the ground, settling down only when it halts to feed.

The common Mormon prefers lightly wooded country, but is present everywhere and high up into the hills. It is a regular visitor to gardens, being especially abundant in orchards of its food plants—oranges and limes. It is most common in the monsoon and post-monsoon months.

In India, this butterfly is considered as the classic example of Batesian mimicry in which edible species resemble unpalatable butterflies in order to escape being eaten by predators.

Mimicry is limited to females, which are heavier with eggs, slower in flight and therefore in greater need of adaptive protection.

References : 

The Hindu article on 'How Butterflies mimic'

Wikipedia

pictures:

Kerala (2018, 2019)

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Pictures are taken from my home in Kerala,  This is a the most common butterfly in our garden, all thanks to my mother in law for maintaining such a beautiful garden with a huge varieties of flowers creating the perfect habitat for this wonderful creatures.