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Omkar Nagare

@wearenaturalists

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🇮🇳 Copyright© 2026
🦋 Wildlife Photographer & Naturalist | Maharashtra, India
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*A Rose to Crown an Extraordinary Butterfly Day!*

The *Common Ros* e (Pachliopta aristolochiae), was the perfect finale to another day of four unusual butterfly sightings! It zoomed around the Aristolochia gigantea flowers and sat on one of them, maybe trying to lay its eggs, its powerful wingbeats alternating with graceful glides. So swift was its flight that I initially wondered if it was a Common Mormon! Only when it paused briefly did its distinctive crimson body and red-spotted hindwings reveal its true identity. What a spectacular way to end the day!
Velvety black wings with white markings, red-spotted hindwings and a striking crimson body. Its caterpillars sequester toxic compounds from their host plants (: Aristolochia species, commonly called Indian Birthworts or Dutchman's Pipe), making the butterfly distasteful to many predators.

Red Data Status: Common. Place: Kamala Nehru Park, Malabar Hill, Mumbai, Maharashtra. Date: 2026-10-13. Family: Swallowtail/Papilionidae

● Dr Sharada Poornima Vakil, Mumbai
#sanctuarymagazine #sanctuarymagazinephotographer #natgeowildlife #butterfliesindia #nature @natgeoindia @natgeo @natgeoyourshot @natgeoanimals @natgeosociety @bbcearth @bbcwildlifemagazine @sonybbcearth @animalplanetindia @natgeoanimals @animalplanet @discovery @discoverychannelin @discoveryplusin @discoveryplus @butterflytales_india @butterfliesindia @_butterfly__diaries_ @butterfly_india @mumbaibutterflyclub @butterflies_and_photography @amazing_butterflies @butterflies_rm @shutterstock_photography_hp @shutter_stock_photography @naturalistex @nature @wild.watchers @wildlife.on.earth

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A Regal Surprise at Hanging Garden!

The *Black Rajah* (Charaxes solon), family Nymphalidae, was the first butterfly to greet me at Hanging Garden, resting peacefully on a dried Lantana flower stem. Having seen it only once before, fleetingly and from a distance, I was delighted that this time it stayed long enough for me to identify and admire its beauty.

A powerful, fast-flying butterfly with dark brown wings, contrasting orange markings and distinctive tailed hindwings. Despite its regal name, it is often more elusive than its bold appearance suggests. Host plants: Dichrostachys cinerea and other legumes. Adults often feed on rotting fruit, tree sap and other fermenting substances, and may perch quietly between energetic flights. Sometimes, the greatest surprise is the butterfly that finally decides to stay!

Red Data Status: Common, Place: Hanging Garden, Malabar Hill, S. Mumbai, MH. Date: 2026-10-13. Family: Brush-footed/Nymphalidae

● Dr Sharada Poornima Vakil, Mumbai
#butterfliesindia #sanctuarymagazine #natgeoyourshots #butterfliesofwesternghat#butterfliesofwesternghats @butterfly_india @natgeoindia @natgeo @natgeosociety @bbcearth @bbcwildlifemagazine @sonybbcearth @mumbaibutterflyclub @amazing_butterflies @savebutterflies @shutterstock_photography_hp @shutter_stock_photography @jhc_incredibleindia

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🦋🦋Common Name: Red Helen

A beautiful swallowtail butterfly known for its elegant black wings, striking red markings, and distinctive tail-like extensions. This butterfly belongs to the family Papilionidae and is found across parts of the Himalayan region, including Sikkim. 🌿

Scientific Name: Papilio helenus Linnaeus, 1758

Common Name: Red Helen

Family: Papilionidae

Wingspan: Large, measuring approximately 80 to 115 mm (9–12 cm)
Life cycle: Egg → Caterpillar → Pupa → Adult butterfly

📍 Location: Pakyong, East Sikkim, India

#ButterflyPhotography #SwallowtailButterfly #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #SikkimNature

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Widely distributed in North East India..
This beautiful Jay features dark brown or black wings adorned with chains of pale greenish or yellowish spots, an apical white spot on the forewings, and silvery-white or orange-marked undersides.

In Frame : The Veined Jay Butterfly (Graphium chironides)....🦋

#butterflyphotography #photographers_of_india #arunachal #cannon #raaclick

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Prominantly found in high altitude regions of Himalayas above 3000 feet..They are toxic and non edible, which is highlighted through their bright yellow patches serving as an aposematic warning to potential predators...
Also known for the ecological indicators of healthy and pure environment...

In Frame : The Hill Jezebel (Delias belladonna)....🦋

#butterflyphotography #arunachal #samsungs24ultra #photographers_of_india #raaclick

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A 1 cm leafhopper..
A small, colorful sap-sucking insect found in forests of North East India...
Adults are little over 1 cm in length and have life span of about 10 months..
They show defense mechanism by mimicing toxic ladybug pupae to scare off the predators...

In Frame : Black-tipped Leafhopper (Bothrogonia ferruginea)...🪲

#insect
#photographers_of_india #arunachal #samsungs24ultra #raaclick

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1. Common Crow 2. Common Mime (mating) 3. Glassy Tiger 4. Common Castor 5.Small Salmon Arab 6. Open Guava Blue f 7. Closed Guava Blue f 8. Common Leopard. Hanging Garden, Malabar Hill. Mumbai. 2026-10-04 inat link: https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?created_on=2026-10-04&on=2026-10-04&user_id=sharadavakil&verifiable=any

#sanctuarymagazine #sanctuarymagazinephotographer #natgeoindia #butterfliesindia #natgeoyourshots @natgeo @natgeoyourshot @bbcearth @bbcwildlifemagazine @bbcwildlifemagazine @animalplanetindia @natgeoanimals @animalplanet @mumbaibutterflyclub @_butterfly__diaries_ @butterfliesindia @butterfly_india @savebutterflies@nature @wildlife.on.earth @shutterstock_photography_hp @shutter_stock_photography

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Lifecycle of common castor butterfly (Ariadne merione)
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#butterflylifecycle #lifecycle #castorbutterfly #chrysalis #butterflyconservation

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I first heard the name Singleton, when Omkar posted his observation. A couple of weeks later towards the very end of the Papilio Trails trip to Gobuk, we were at Passighat, just about to cross back into Assam. There were loads and loads of butterflies at this spot. Thanks to it's distinct spot patterns, This butterfly literally stood out among the other tiny ones. At first I thought it was some uncommon cupid. Ashok da reminded me, no, it's a Singleton! Another lifer 😍

Singleton, Passighat, Arunachal Pradesh. Papilio Trails trip in Sep 2026

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Another find from my bucket list and its lifer...
One of the largest species in its group, with a wingspan reaching up to 13.6 cm..Found strictly in Himalayan reagion of North East India

In Frame: The Golden Emperor Moth species(Loepa himalayana)...🦋

#mothphotography
#samsungs24ultra #photographers_of_india #arunachal #raaclick

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Every Butterfly counts. Every contribution matters.🦋

Big Butterfly Month brought together butterfly enthusiasts, nature lovers, coordinators, partners, organisers and volunteers across the country, each contributing in their own meaningful way. 🤝🌍

Now, it’s time to capture this collective effort!

Did you organise or support a BBM activity?
Help us track BBM engagement across India by submitting your event through the BBM Event Tracker Form. "Scan the QR code or comment for the link".

🎓Get your BBM Certificate!
Make sure your contribution is recorded and submit your details before 15th October to receive your certification.

Thank you for being part of the movement and helping butterflies take flight across India.🦋✨💚

#BigButterflyMonth #BBM2026 #ButterflyIndia #ButterflyConservation #ButterflyWalk ButterflyLovers CommunityConservation Naturelovers

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Blue Oakleaf 🦋

Location: Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park, Belvai
Date: 26th Sept 2026

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It is truly fascinating to see a Blue Oakleaf up close at Sammilan Shetty’s Butterfly Park. Such a beautiful butterfly, and I was glad to have the opportunity to stop, observe it closely and photograph it.

This one, however, seemed completely unbothered by everything happening around it busy enjoying a sweet banana, as if it had the whole place to itself.

A beautiful encounter and a reminder that sometimes the best sightings are the ones where you simply stop and observe.

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