Blue Pansy designated as 'State Butterfly' of Jammu and Kashmir

The Jammu and Kashmir government has officially declared Blue Pansy as 'Butterfly of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir'.

“Sanction is hereby accorded to the declaration of Blue Pansy (Junonia Orithya) as Butterfly of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir,” read an order issued by Dheeraj Gupta, Principal Secretary to the Government for Department of Forest, Ecology and Environment.

Chief Wildlife Warden Suresh Kumar Gupta told news agency that Blue Pansy has been declared as butterfly of J&K UT and an order in this regard has been issued on Wednesday evening by the government.

The Blue Pansy is a species of bright blue butterflies found in parts of Southeast Asian countries, Australia and Africa. It is known under this name especially in India. These are territorial arthropods and are spread in 26 local subspecies throughout its range. The butterflies love sunlight and are often seen sitting on bare ground, basking in the rays of the sun.