Bhutanitis thaiaina is found in Tibet and China.
   They are a narrowly distributed alpine butterfly species, mostly found in forest clearings and subalpine shrublands.
   They have been listed on the List of Key Protected Wild Animals in China as Class II Protected Species since 1989.
   They are a high altitude species inhabiting mountainous regions above 1,000 meters.
   They are a medium sized butterfly.
   Their hind wings are dark brown with three tail protuberances.
   The dorsal wings of the male are brown, with eight wavy light yellow bands on the forewings.
   The hind wings are decorated with light yellow reticular markings, with a bright red long spot on the anal corner, three bluish white spots below, and orange yellow spots on the outer edges.
    The ventral markings are similar to those on the dorsal wings, but are lighter in color and have a paper like appearance.
   Female butterflies have similar markings to the male, but the wings are more brown, with thinner but darker yellow stripes, and lighter red spots on the hind wings.
    They have one generation per year, with adults mostly on wing in April and May.