A medium-sized, black butterfly with a prominent white line along the hind border of the forewings in the male and prominent 'swallow-tails' at the end of the hindwings. The female has three forms: one resembles the male (Pic.1), one resembles the Crimson Rose butterfly (Pic.2) with white streaks on the forewing, and one resembles the Common Rose butterfly, with a large white spot on the hindwings. (The female mormon differs from the Rose species by being generally duller and having a black body, while the Roses are brighter and have crimson bodies. All have the diagnostic 'swallow-tail').
Behaviour
These butterflies are fairly common in Chennai, the males being swifter fliers than the females. Because the models of their mimicry ' the Rose butterflies ' are evil-tasting, the female mormons gain protection from birds through this adaptation. (However, why the male and one female form are not similarly protected is not known). These insects usually rest with the wings opened flat. They are found throughout the Indian subcontinent and beyond into neighbouring countries to the east and south-east.
