They have dark bodies and darker coloring at the base of their wings, which allows them to absorb solar energy more quickly.

[4] Butterflies of this genus have been widely used models to study metapopulations, population genetics and gene flow.

Their patchy distribution and restricted migration makes them vulnerable to the effects of genetic drift and considerable colour variations can exist in individuals from different regions.

[5][6] Species include: Hypermnestra Parnassius Archon Doritites bosniackii Luehdorfia Sericinus Bhutanitis Zerynthia Allancastria ?

Six of the other subgenera have Fumariaceae as the larval food plant, while the larvae of the remaining genus Kreizbergia feed on Scrophulariaceae[8]