Although there are over 14,000 species of butterflies, many are facing extinction, making them exceptionally rare and precious. This article introduces ten of the world's most prized butterfly species, including the Golden Birdwing, the Two-tailed Brown Swallowtail, the Emperor Moth, the Alexandrine Birdwing, the Bird of Paradise, the Rose Crystal Eye, the Three-tailed Brown Swallowtail, the Morpho Morpho, the Owl Butterfly, the Pearl of the Orient, and the 88-fold Swallowtail. These butterfly species are considered extremely valuable and precious treasures in the butterfly world.
1. Golden-spotted Swallowtail Butterfly
The Golden Birdwing Butterfly is mainly distributed in Fujian, Jiangxi, Guangxi, and Hainan provinces of China, with five subspecies. As a rare species endemic to China, it is praised as the "National Butterfly" and the "Pride of Butterflies," and is also one of the world's most precious butterflies. The Golden Birdwing Butterfly is extremely valuable and rare, the only butterfly in China listed as a Class I protected animal, and also ranked first among the world's eight most precious butterflies, praised as a "Dream Butterfly" and a "Living Fossil of the World's Animals." Its graceful posture resembles a magnificent, noble, and radiant "lady," thus earning it the title of "Queen of Butterflies." This butterfly has been auctioned for millions of dollars, demonstrating its exceptional rarity.
2. Two-tailed Brown Swallowtail Butterfly
The Two-tailed Brown Swallowtail (Papilio spp.) is an insect belonging to the genus Papilio in the family Papilionidae. It is one of the world's rarest and most precious butterflies. First discovered in western Yunnan, China in the 1930s, it is endemic to China, primarily distributed in Sichuan and Yunnan provinces. It is currently listed as a Class II protected animal in China. After its initial discovery in western Yunnan, it was not rediscovered until 1981 by mountaineers from Hokkaido, Japan, on Mount Gongga in China. Therefore, the Two-tailed Brown Swallowtail is one of the rarest butterflies in the world.
3. Emperor Moth Yin-Yang Butterfly
The Emperor Moth Heteropoda is a butterfly species endemic to South America and one of the rarest in the butterfly world, found in only one in ten million butterflies. Its wings differ in shape, color, and size, exhibiting a rich variety of physical characteristics. A single Emperor Moth Heteropoda possesses a pair of wings that are different in shape, asymmetrical, and of opposite sexes; the left wing is female, while the right wing is male, creating a unique mixed-sex phenomenon. However, due to the difference in wing shape, the Emperor Moth Heteropoda cannot fly normally, and its lifespan is only a short six days.
4. Alexandrine Birdwing Butterfly
The Alexandrine Birdwing Butterfly is the largest butterfly in the world. Named by Rothschild in 1907 in honor of Queen Alexandra (1844-1925), wife of King Edward VII of Great Britain, this species is found only in the Northern Province of eastern New Guinea. Since 1989, this birdwing butterfly has been classified as endangered. Due to its rarity, it holds extremely high value on the black market. The Alexandrine Birdwing Butterfly is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is classified as a Category I endangered species.
5. Bird of Paradise Butterfly
The Bird-of-Paradise Butterfly (Papilionidae) belongs to the genus Papilionidae in the order Lepidoptera. It is a relatively large butterfly, mainly distributed in New Guinea and its surrounding islands. There is a clear difference between males and females. Females are larger than males, with more rounded and broader wings. Furthermore, the larvae of the Bird-of-Paradise Butterfly hatch and grow on the poisonous plant Aristolochia debilis, a selection process that helps protect the larvae.
The Birdsbill Bird of Paradise is a species protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and is classified as a Category II endangered species. According to the Convention, capturing and killing this butterfly is prohibited. This level of protection aims to safeguard and maintain the survival of its population.
6. Rose Crystal Eye Butterfly
The Rose Crystal Butterfly is a pure spirit of nature, its wings completely transparent with a vibrant red underside, a unique and rare appearance that is truly breathtaking. Moreover, the transparent parts of its wings are free of scales, further highlighting the wonder of nature. The beauty of its tail and its completely transparent wings make it a coveted possession for many collectors.
The Rose Crystal Butterfly is listed as a Class R (Level I) protected species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) and is a precious butterfly species in my country. They are distributed in Guangdong, Guangxi, Jiangxi, and other regions of China, showcasing the country's rich biodiversity.
7. Three-tailed Brown Swallowtail Butterfly
The Three-tailed Brown Swallowtail, also known as the Western China Brown Swallowtail or simply the Three-tailed Swallowtail, is a butterfly species endemic to China. They are medium-sized, with forewings approximately 42-48 mm long and three tail-like projections on their hindwings, hence their name. They are mainly distributed in Tibet, Yunnan, Sichuan, and Shaanxi provinces of China. According to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the Three-tailed Brown Swallowtail is classified as Least Concern (LC) and is listed as a Class II protected animal in China.
Currently, the population of the Three-tailed Brown Swallowtail butterfly is extremely small. In some areas where its distribution was previously recorded, the species has not been sighted for nearly a decade. This situation has drawn increased attention to its conservation and research.
8. Morpho Butterfly
The Morpho heliotrope, also known as the Helena Morpho butterfly, is considered one of the most beautiful butterflies in the world. Its wings resemble white waves surging on a blue ocean, creating a spectacular display of color and pattern. Morpho heliotrope butterflies are mainly found in Brazil and Peru, inhabiting the Amazon River basin in Peru, South America. However, their numbers are very limited, and their reproductive capacity is weak, making them highly prized.
Although Peru has carried out large-scale artificial breeding for export to the international market, and Morpho heliotropium butterflies can now be found in the domestic market, wild populations remain very rare and extremely precious.
9. Owl Butterfly
The Owl Butterfly is a world-renowned, common large butterfly whose wing design is inspired by the face of an owl, creating an extremely clever camouflage effect. Its name comes from the unique patterns on its wings. On the lower wings on both sides, there is a pair of patterns exactly like the eyes of an owl, giving it a fierce and menacing appearance. This pattern not only has a powerful deterrent effect, but also displays vibrant colors on the front when the Owl Butterfly spreads its wings, showcasing its exceptional beauty.
10. Pearl of the Orient Butterfly
The Oriental Pearl Butterfly, also known as the Green Birdwing Butterfly, is the national butterfly of Indonesia. It is a typical representative of the genus *Papilionidae*, which includes 14 different subspecies. The Oriental Pearl Butterfly's forewings are black in the middle, surrounded by dark green, with four or five black spots near the outer edge. The hindwings have an oval-shaped golden patch where the leading edge meets the forewing. The Oriental Pearl Butterfly is a gem among the *Papilionidae* genus, showcasing its unique beauty.
The list of the world's ten most precious butterflies is ranked and recommended based on a comprehensive consideration of factors such as the rarity of the butterflies, their distribution range, and the collectible value of their specimens. This list is for reference only. If you have any questions, please feel free to comment or offer corrections at the end.
