The Common Banded Peacock Butterfly, scientifically known as Papilio Crino, is a large butterfly and a member of the swallowtail family (Papilionidae) found in parts of the Indian subcontinent, including India, Nepal, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka up to 1000 meters above the sea level.
It is distinguished by its bright blue or green coloration, which is due to the scales on the interior of its wings. The top side of the wings boasts a black hue, accompanied by a wide green or blue stripe stretching from the edge near the body to the inner corner. A collection of little eyespots can also be found on the lower wing. When it comes to the underside, the wings don a brown color, adorned with an array of white speckles. Although male and female butterflies look quite similar, males are slightly larger and have a more elongated belly.
The life cycle of the Common Banded Peacock Butterfly has four stages, namely: egg, larva, pupa, and adult.
The female butterfly lays her eggs, which can be up to 100 eggs, on the leaves of citrus trees. Tiny, yellow eggs take around five days to hatch. Once they do, green caterpillars with black and yellow stripes come out of them, which are actually the larvae. These little creatures love munching on citrus tree leaves like those from lemon and orange trees for roughly two weeks. As soon as they're done eating, they turn into a pupa, an interesting green and brown structure that hangs from a branch with the support of a silken thread.
After a couple of weeks as a pupa, the adult butterfly finally breaks free and takes flight. This grown-up beauty has striking black wings with gorgeous green bands on them. With a slim abdomen and an impressive wingspan of about 10-12 cm, the adult butterfly is truly magnificent. The adult butterfly lives for around two weeks.
The Common Banded Peacock Butterfly flies around quickly and is often spotted enjoying the nectar of flowers. It is also known to sip moisture from mud puddles and damp soil.
In various cultures, the Common Banded Peacock Butterfly holds special significance. In Japan, it's called "Shiro-Ehagaki" or "White Postcard" butterfly and also "Shashinkan.", which means butterfly with large showy wings. In China, it symbolizes good luck and prosperity as "Hu Die" or "Butterfly of Happiness." Meanwhile, in India, it's linked to the Hindu god Krishna as "Krishna Pataka" or "Blue Flag" butterfly.
The best time to view the Common Banded Peacock Butterfly in Nepal is during the spring (March-May) and fall (September-November). During these times, the butterfly is most active and can be seen in abundance in the forests of Nepal.
It is a beautiful and fascinating butterfly, and its presence is a sign of a healthy ecosystem. It is not considered to be threatened. However, it is vulnerable to habitat loss and degradation.