Populations range from Siberia and the Far East of Russia to the western Chukchi Peninsula, Mongolia and north China.

The forewing length is 17–31 mm; the wings have a white ground colour, often with a yellowish tint, and in females with a dark suffusion.

Reddish or yellowish spots on the hindwings are elongate and to some extent stretched along the veins and may be reduced.

Description by Adalbert Seitz (1909): deviates somewhat from the general aspect of the [Parnassius acco] group [(acco, Parnassius simo and tenedius)], male with theordinary cell-spots, the central one rounded, further with an abbreviated band distally of cell bearing 2 more or less distinct red dots; with narrow vitreous margin and a submarginal row of sharply marked small black spots.

— East Turkestan: Issykkul; South Siberia: Altai, Sajan, Kentei Mts.upper districts of the Lena and Viljui (July), Jakutsk."[1]P.