Among the many butterflies, the Chinese three-tailed swallowtail is very special. Unlike other butterflies, which love gardens with flowers in full bloom, it lives in the mountains and rarely shows up.

The three-tailed swallowtail is unique to China. It gets its name from the three tail-like protrusions on its hind wings. The appearance of the Chinese three-tailed swallowtail is not very outstanding. Its body is mainly dark brown, with only small patches of red, blue and yellow on the hind wings. However, it is a treasure among butterflies in China and under China’s second-class state protection.

Due to climate warming and habitat destruction, it has become rare in recent years. The study found that in some of the originallyrecorded distribution sites, such as the main peak of the Qinling Mountains, Taibai Mountain area in Shaanxi, the Gongga Mountains in Sichuan, and the Xinxing Township area in Luding,Sichuan, no such butterflies have appeared for nearly 10 years.