Pachliopta aristolochiae

The Common Rose (Pachliopta aristolochiae) is a swallowtail butterfly belonging to the Pachliopta genus, the Roses, or Red-bodied Swallowtails. It is a common butterfly which is extensively distributed across South and South East Asia.It is widely distributed in Asia. Afghanistan, Pakistan, India(includes Andaman islands), Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Japan (south-westernOkinawa only), Laos, Vietnam, Kampuchea(now Cambodia), Nicobar islands, peninsular and eastern Malaysia, Brunei, Philippines (Palawan and Leyte),Indonesia, and Taiwan.

In China, it is distributed in southern and eastern China (including Hainan, Guangdong province), and Hong Kong. In Indonesia, it is distributed inSumatra, Nias, Enggano, Bangka, Java, Bali, Kangean, Lombok, Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, Tanahjampea, and Kalimantan.

It is also recorded from Pune.

LOCATION:CHAMPAKARA

It is the commonest of the large tailed butterflies of India and one of the most interesting butterflies for the Indian amateur naturalist to observe.

The red body, slow peculiar flight, bright colouration and pattern of the wings are meant to indicate to predators that this butterfly is inedible, being well protected by the poisons it has sequestered from its larval food plant. It also emits a nasty smelling substance when handled to further enhance its unappealing qualities. Hence it is rarely attacked by predators, a strategy so successful, that edible butterflies have evolved to mimic it, the classical example being that of the female morph of the Common Mormon that is Papilio polytes, female form stichius.

The Common Rose frequently visits flowers such as Lantana, Cosmos, Zinnia, Jatropha and Clerodendron. The butterfly occasionally also visits wet patches. In parts of Sri Lanka, the males are known to congregate and form a beautiful sight while mud-puddling.Very common almost all over the plains of India, and not threatened as a species. Extremely abundant during and after the monsoon.