Teinopalpus imperialis
Encyclopedia
The Kaiser-i-Hind is a rare species of swallowtail
butterfly
found from Nepal
and north India
east to north Vietnam
. The common name literally means "Emperor of India". The Kaiser-i-hind is much sought after by butterfly collectors for its beauty and rarity. The green iridiscence of the wings has been found to be due to three dimensional photonic structure
of the scales and is the subject of much research.
The Kaiser-i-hind, like the Bhutan Glory is unmistakable and cannot be confused with any other butterfly. A predominantly green swallowtail, the male has a bright
The following descriptions are from Bingham, C. T (1907) The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Butterflies Volume 2.
Much larger, differs also in coloration and markings as follows: Upperside, forewings: the irroration of green scales on the terminal two-thirds restricted to a sub-terminal moderately broad band diffuse along its inner edge, and a medial somewhat ill-defined similar band that is bordered both on the inner and outer sides by diffuse dusky black; this is succeeded by two broad diffuse transverse dark grey bands, the outer of the two edged on its outer side narrowly with black, followed by a subterminal green band and terminal velvety-black margin. Hindwing: the upper discal yellow patch so conspicuous in the male, replaced by a very much larger dark grey patch, below which comparatively narrow markings of yellow extend up to the dorsum; a postdiscal sinuous lunular narrow black band and a subterminal series of green lunules as in the male, but the apical lunule dark grey, not yellow; the tail-like extensions of the termen at the apices of veins 3 to 6 are black shaded with green, those at the apices of veins 4 and 6 tipped, the former with yellow the latter with greenish-white. Underside similar to the underside in the male, but on both fore and hind wing the areas coloured with rich ochraceous and yellow are grey, with the exception of a well-marked moderately broad subterminal band on the forewing which is of a dull ochraceous colour; on the hindwing the grey discal area extends right up to the apical lunule of the subterminal series. Antennae, head, thorax and abdomen as in the male.
Expanse: 90–127 mm
The larva of this magnificent butterfly, according to Mr. Knyvett, feeds on Daphne nipalensis, but so far as I know, no description of it has been published. I am quite unable to separate the Sikkim form of this insect, even as a race. The points of difference between it and the Assam form are extremely variable, and the most prominent of these, viz. the paler tint of the grey area on the upperside of the hind wing in the female, is perhaps the most variable of all the characters. An Assam specimen of the female in the collection of the British Museum is far and away paler than any Sikkim specimen I have seen. Mr. Elwes says that in Sikkim this insect is only found in the forest region from about 6000 to 10000 ft (1,828.8 to 3,048 m) elevation, and that "it is most difficult to capture on account of its remarkably strong, rapid and dashing flight, and its habit of resting on high trees from which it flies only during a few hours of the morning" (Elwes, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1888, p. 421). The females are much scarcer than the males. I once saw a female on the wing and rather low down, in a clearing on the hill above the Rungarun Forest bungalow near Darjeeling. According to Col. Swinhoe, T. imperialis is common in the Khasia hills in Assam.
, Bhutan
and along the Eastern Himalayas in India (West Bengal
, Meghalaya
, Assam
, Sikkim
and Manipur
). It is also found in northern Burma, northern Vietnam
and in the Sichuan
province of China. Mostly seen above 6000 feet (1,828.8 m).
The two species of Kaiser-i-hind were listed in CITES Appendix II from 1987 onwards.
The Kaiser-i-hind would be a keystone species for conservation of high-altitude forest. Conservation in the Indian Union is complicated by the fact that most of the responsibility for conservation action runs at the state (province) level and not at the national level. There is a need for collecting more data in the habitat area and surrounding areas such as the adjoining mountain regions of China where the species is likely to occur.
from 6000 to 10000 ft (1,828.8 to 3,048 m) in well-wooded terrain. In the northeast of India, much of its forest habitat is degraded by jhoom cultivation; the butterfly is rarely found in the degraded patches.
Males visit damp patches and also suck moisture from leaves. Females rarely visit flowers or damp patches. Can be attracted by baiting.
Often found on forest clearings and open spaces flanked by forests on hills and mountains. These are mostly males, who establish territories and aggressively drive away other intruding males, and stopping virgin females in search of mates.
Eggs: Smooth, spherical, pale purplish red. Laid on underside of leaves.
Larva: Spindle shaped, green larva with broad heads and tapering tails. The larva has minute spines on the head and hair-like long spines on the segments.
Pupa: Resembles that of Graphium species. It has a smooth head and prominent dorsal horn. It has a green mesothorax and broad yellow dorsal zones on the abdomen.
Swallowtail butterfly
Swallowtail butterflies are large, colorful butterflies that form the family Papilionidae. There are over 550 species, and though the majority are tropical, members of the family are found on all continents except Antarctica...
butterfly
Butterfly
A butterfly is a mainly day-flying insect of the order Lepidoptera, which includes the butterflies and moths. Like other holometabolous insects, the butterfly's life cycle consists of four parts: egg, larva, pupa and adult. Most species are diurnal. Butterflies have large, often brightly coloured...
found from Nepal
Nepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
and north India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
east to north Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
. The common name literally means "Emperor of India". The Kaiser-i-hind is much sought after by butterfly collectors for its beauty and rarity. The green iridiscence of the wings has been found to be due to three dimensional photonic structure
Photonic crystal
Photonic crystals are periodic optical nanostructures that are designed to affect the motion of photons in a similar way that periodicity of a semiconductor crystal affects the motion of electrons...
of the scales and is the subject of much research.
Description
- See glossaryGlossary of Lepidopteran termsThis glossary describes the terms used in the formal descriptions of insect species, jargon used mostly by professionals or entomologist....
for terms used
The Kaiser-i-hind, like the Bhutan Glory is unmistakable and cannot be confused with any other butterfly. A predominantly green swallowtail, the male has a bright
The following descriptions are from Bingham, C. T (1907) The Fauna of British India, Including Ceylon and Burma. Butterflies Volume 2.
Male
Upperside black, densely irrorated with green scales. Forewing: an outwardly oblique, slightly concave subbasal band and a narrow terminal edging jet-black due to the ground-colour there being devoid of the green scaling; beyond the subbasal band the irroration of scales a much brighter green, especially along the outer edge of the subbasal band itself; but along obscure, broad and convergent discal and postdiscal transverse bands and along a subterminal much narrower band, the green scaling thins out and the black ground-colour of the wing shows through; in some specimens, owing to the transparency of the wings, the rich ochraceous-brown colour of the underside gives the black on these bands a reddish tint. Hind wing: basal area margined outwardly by a narrow irregularly sinuous band devoid of green scaling, succeeded by an upper discal bright chrome-yellow patch that spreads from base of interspace 3 across the apex of the cell and bases of interspaces 4 and 5 to the costa; this patch is bluntly angulated outwards in interspace 5, stained with orange anteriorly and bordered outwardly by black which is widest above; below the patch a white line extends to the dorsum; the postdiscal area is deep dark green, margined inwardly by diffuse dark grey and followed outwardly by a subterminal series of lunular markings, the tornal and upper two or three of which are yellow, the rest bright green; tail tipped with yellow. Underside: basal area of both fore and hind wings densely covered with green scales. Forewing: terminal two-thirds rich ochraceous brown, the green of the basal area bordered by black; discal and postdiscal bands also black, widened and diffusely coalescent posteriorly; an incomplete, very slender subterminal black line and broader black terminal edging, neither of which reaches to the apex. Hindwing much as on the upperside, but the yellow marking broader. Antennae dark red; head, thorax and abdomen black, covered somewhat densely with green hairs and scales.Female
Expanse: 90–127 mm
The larva of this magnificent butterfly, according to Mr. Knyvett, feeds on Daphne nipalensis, but so far as I know, no description of it has been published. I am quite unable to separate the Sikkim form of this insect, even as a race. The points of difference between it and the Assam form are extremely variable, and the most prominent of these, viz. the paler tint of the grey area on the upperside of the hind wing in the female, is perhaps the most variable of all the characters. An Assam specimen of the female in the collection of the British Museum is far and away paler than any Sikkim specimen I have seen. Mr. Elwes says that in Sikkim this insect is only found in the forest region from about 6000 to 10000 ft (1,828.8 to 3,048 m) elevation, and that "it is most difficult to capture on account of its remarkably strong, rapid and dashing flight, and its habit of resting on high trees from which it flies only during a few hours of the morning" (Elwes, Trans. Ent. Soc. 1888, p. 421). The females are much scarcer than the males. I once saw a female on the wing and rather low down, in a clearing on the hill above the Rungarun Forest bungalow near Darjeeling. According to Col. Swinhoe, T. imperialis is common in the Khasia hills in Assam.
Distribution
The butterfly is found small pockets in NepalNepal
Nepal , officially the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, is a landlocked sovereign state located in South Asia. It is located in the Himalayas and bordered to the north by the People's Republic of China, and to the south, east, and west by the Republic of India...
, Bhutan
Bhutan
Bhutan , officially the Kingdom of Bhutan, is a landlocked state in South Asia, located at the eastern end of the Himalayas and bordered to the south, east and west by the Republic of India and to the north by the People's Republic of China...
and along the Eastern Himalayas in India (West Bengal
West Bengal
West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...
, Meghalaya
Meghalaya
Meghalaya is a state in north-eastern India. The word "Meghalaya" literally means the Abode of Clouds in Sanskrit and other Indic languages. Meghalaya is a hilly strip in the eastern part of the country about 300 km long and 100 km wide, with a total area of about 8,700 sq mi . The...
, Assam
Assam
Assam , also, rarely, Assam Valley and formerly the Assam Province , is a northeastern state of India and is one of the most culturally and geographically distinct regions of the country...
, Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
and Manipur
Manipur
Manipur is a state in northeastern India, with the city of Imphal as its capital. Manipur is bounded by the Indian states of Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south and Assam to the west; it also borders Burma to the east. It covers an area of...
). It is also found in northern Burma, northern Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and in the Sichuan
Sichuan
' , known formerly in the West by its postal map spellings of Szechwan or Szechuan is a province in Southwest China with its capital in Chengdu...
province of China. Mostly seen above 6000 feet (1,828.8 m).
Status
The Kaiser-i-Hind is a local and rare butterfly which is protected by Indian and Nepalese law. Protection enforcement in these countries not being effective, it is hunted and collectors pay heavy prices.The two species of Kaiser-i-hind were listed in CITES Appendix II from 1987 onwards.
The Kaiser-i-hind would be a keystone species for conservation of high-altitude forest. Conservation in the Indian Union is complicated by the fact that most of the responsibility for conservation action runs at the state (province) level and not at the national level. There is a need for collecting more data in the habitat area and surrounding areas such as the adjoining mountain regions of China where the species is likely to occur.
Habitat
The Kaiser-i-hind is a high altitude forest species which occurs at medium and higher elevations in the HimalayasHimalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
from 6000 to 10000 ft (1,828.8 to 3,048 m) in well-wooded terrain. In the northeast of India, much of its forest habitat is degraded by jhoom cultivation; the butterfly is rarely found in the degraded patches.
Habits
Very fast and strong flight. Flies at tree-top level until it chooses to descend if there is strong morning sunlight. When overcast, males are known to descend and sit on low vegetation, where it's disruptive, dull underside colouration makes it difficult to distinguish. Will remain so still that they have even been caught by hand in such circumstances. Females are known to fly in overcast and rainy weather also.Males visit damp patches and also suck moisture from leaves. Females rarely visit flowers or damp patches. Can be attracted by baiting.
Often found on forest clearings and open spaces flanked by forests on hills and mountains. These are mostly males, who establish territories and aggressively drive away other intruding males, and stopping virgin females in search of mates.
Lifecycle
Flies in Sikkim in April and May and later in Manipur from May to July. Probably have two broods. The larvae feed on Magnolia campbellii (Magnoliaceae).Eggs: Smooth, spherical, pale purplish red. Laid on underside of leaves.
Larva: Spindle shaped, green larva with broad heads and tapering tails. The larva has minute spines on the head and hair-like long spines on the segments.
Pupa: Resembles that of Graphium species. It has a smooth head and prominent dorsal horn. It has a green mesothorax and broad yellow dorsal zones on the abdomen.
Research
The iridescent green scaling on the wings of the Kaiser-i-hind are the subject of much research. The three-dimensional photonic structure has been examined by transmission electron tomography and computer modelling to reveal naturally occurring "chiral tetrahedral repeating units packed in a triclinic lattice" (Argyros etal 2001), the cause of the iridescence.See also
Other sources
- Collins, N.M. & Morris, M.G. (1985) Threatened Swallowtail Butterflies of the World. IUCN. ISBN 2-88032-603-6
- Evans, W.H. (1932) The Identification of Indian Butterflies. (2nd Ed), Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India
- Haribal, Meena (1994) Butterflies of Sikkim Himalaya and their Natural History.
- Wynter-Blyth, M.A. (1957) Butterflies of the Indian Region. Bombay Natural History Society, Mumbai, India.
External links
- Teinopalpus imperialis in "A Check List of Butterflies in Indo-China (chiefly from Thailand, Laos and Vietnam)". Inayoshi, Y. 2009. Accessed 28 October 2010.
- Teinopalpus imperialis in "Lepidoptera and some other life forms". Markku Savela. Accessed 28 October 2010.
- Images of Bhutan Glory (Teinopalpus imperialis gillesi Turlin 1991) in the Xam Neua region of Houa Phan province of Laos in the wild at tree-top level.]