About

• The Indian Common Crow Butterfly is a common butterfly found from South Asia to Australia.
• It is one of the most common migrating butterfly species. Males and females in equal proportions have been seen to migrate. 
• This species can be found in a wide variety of lowland habitats including tropical rainforest, dry woodland, Acacia scrub, beach hinterlands, parks and gardens.
• IUCN Status: Least Concern

Why in the news?

• Visakhapatnam of Andhra Pradesh has observed swarms (many butterflies/ insects travelling at a time) of Indian Common Crow Butterflies across the city.
• Butterflies usually migrate before the onset of South West monsoons from Western Ghats to the forests of Eastern Ghats plains to avoid torrential rains. They travel back before the onset of North East monsoons.
• But monsoon is far and butterfly swarms are seen in the month of March.
• Local Scientists say that this phenomenon may be due to population outburst of the butterflies or may be an indication of climate change,

References:

1. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Visakhapatnam/city-sees-mass-movement-of-butterflies/article34078656.ece
2. https://www.learnaboutbutterflies.com/India%20-%20Euploea%20core.htm
3. https://www.ifoundbutterflies.org/sp/536/Euploea-core