Dusted Apollo

Dusted Apollo

News: Dusted Apollo has been sighted and photographed for the first time in Himachal Pradesh.

About:
•  The Dusted Apollo (Parnassius stenosemus) is a rare high-altitude butterfly.
•  The butterfly’s distribution range extends from Ladakh to West Nepal, and it typically flies at altitudes between 3,500 to 4,800 meters in the inner Himalayas.
•  The sighting of the Dusted Apollo and another rare species, the Regal Apollo (Parnnasius charltonius), at Manimahesh is seen as an encouraging indication of the flourishing diversity of Apollo butterflies in the region.
•   Regal Apollo is protected under Schedule II of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
•  Apollo butterflies are considered commercially important and are often targeted in the poaching industry. Many Apollo butterfly species are now endangered, emphasizing the need for conservation and protection.