The Maharashtra Government on Monday declared Blue Mormon as the State butterfly.
The State is also the first in the country to make such announcement.
The decision was taken in a meeting of the State Wildlife Board here chaired by Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar.
Maharashtra already has Indian Giant Squirrel (Shekru) as its state animal, Yellow Footed Green Pigeon (Hariyal) as state bird, mango as state tree, and lagerststroemia (Jarul) as state flower but did not have butterfly as one of the symbols representing its flora and fauna.
"Nature-lovers have always been fascinated by butterfly. The state is home to nearly 225 varieties of butterflies and home to about 15 per cent of their population in the country. No state in the country has ever declared a state butterfly and the species has been one of the most neglected elements," Mungantiwar told reporters here.
"Academicians, research scholars on butterflies and nature-lovers have requested the forest minister (Mungantiwar also holds Forest department) to consider 'Blue Mormon' for the coveted title," the minister said.
