Teinopalpus Imperialis

This stunning swallowtail is very rare, threatened both by over-collecting and by increasing destruction of its habitat. Found in small pockets in northeastern India, Nepal, and Bhutan at 6,000 to 10,000 feet in the Himalayan mountains, it is today protected by Indian law but is still hunted illegally, as its unusual and beautiful coloration, and its rarity, make it highly prized by collectors. Luckily, its strong, rapid, irregular flight and habit of perching high up in trees makes it difficult to capture.