India’s second largest butterfly species, Southern Birdwing, has been found on the satellite campus of The American College between Chathirapatti and Kadavur in Madurai district, Tamil Nadu.
- The species has a wingspan of 190mm. It was known to be India’s largest butterfly species from 1932 to 2020.
- However, it was moved to the second position after a British Brigadier William Harry Evans recorded a butterfly species named Golden Birdwing with a wingspan of 194mm.
- While the Golden Birdwing is widely found in Himalayan region, the Southern Birdwing can be seen in Western and Eastern Ghats regions.
- September is the migratory season for butterflies.