The Metamorphosis is more than just a great Kafka read. The term is commonly associated with the inspirational story of a caterpillar spinning itself into a silky cocoon and morphing into a butterfly. But leaving that aside, our curiosity is reduced only to appreciating its beauty. And as quick as they are, it is often difficult to capture one - the Blue Mormon though, requires very little effort.

In 2015, the government of Maharashtra declared the species as its official state butterfly. The insect, with a wingspan of 12 cm to 14 cm, is the second largest of its kind to be found in the state after the Southern Birdwing. It belongs to the family Papillonidae or Swallowtails denoting large, colourful butterflies. The word mormon is believed to have been borrowed from the sect owing to its polygamous nature. "The coloration is what makes the species distinct with blue stripes against a black background. It's indigenous to India and Sri Lanka, and although you can spot it in Mumbai, they are easy to spot in heavy rainfall areas," says Asif Khan of the BHNS.