India GO
Crimson rose
A large black swallowtail with broken white bands and a row of crimson spots along the hindwing, plus a red body. It flies slowly and openly, because it is poisonous and does not need to hurry.
👀 How to recognise it
Unhurried, fluttering flight at flower height, often at lantana and ixora. The red body and red spots are the warning signal - several harmless butterflies copy this pattern.
Protection
Schedule I, Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 - collecting is an offence
Where to see it
Mysore
Its caterpillars feed only on Aristolochia vines and store the plant's toxins, which is why the adult can afford to advertise itself.
Karanji Lake Nature Park (often) · Kukkarahalli Lake (often)
Auroville
Its caterpillars eat only Aristolochia vines and store the plant's toxins. Butterfly diversity is one of the measures the Auroville forest group uses to track how the restored forest is maturing.
Auroville Botanical Gardens (often) · Pitchandikulam Forest (often)