14-8-2021 ALDEA DEL OBISPO, SALAMANCA - MIGRANT SPREADWING DAMSELFLY (Lestes barbarus)

Lestes barbarus is a species of damselfly of the family Lestidae, the spreadwings. Its common names in English include southern emerald damselfly, shy emerald damselfly, and migrant spreadwing.

Lestes barbarus is a European–central Asian species with isolated populations in North Africa and a range expanding northward. It is found across southern Europe in a band across Spain, France, Italy and Greece to India and Mongolia. It is less common in northern Europe, although some are found as far north as Sweden. It breeds in the Netherlands in coastal dunes and is increasing in number. It is at the edge of its range in the Channel Islands, where it has been breeding since 1995. It is also found in North Africa; it gets its Latin name as the first specimen was found in Barbary, North Africa. It is a damselfly of still water and can be found in stagnant and slightly brackish water.

This species was first recorded in Britain at Winterton Dunes, Norfolk, on 30 July 2002. In 2003 and 2004 it was noted at Sandwich Bay, Kent. In 2018 it was proven to have bred in Britain for the first time.

This species has the typical appearance of a Lestes damselfly with a metallic green body and wings held away from the body at rest. It differs from the other European Lestes in having bicoloured pterostigmata, which is diagnostic. The male abdominal appendage and female ovipositor are also characteristic and unlike those of L. sponsa or L. dryas.

Immatures have pale pterostigmata and only develop the characteristic two-coloured pterostigmata when mature.

The flight period is from March to October in the south of its range but in north it flies mainly from June to August. Its behaviour is similar to that of L. sponsa, but it is more likely to be found away from water. After mating the pair usually remain in tandem while the female lays eggs on waterside plants. The eggs overwinter in diapause and the larvae hatch in spring. The larvae develop within two months, the adults emerging in late spring.

14-8-2021 ALDEA DEL OBISPO, SALAMANCA - CRESTED LARK (Galerida cristata)

The Crested Lark (Galerida cristata) is a small, robust passerine bird, approximately 17 cm in height with a wingspan ranging from 29 to 38 cm. It weighs between 37 and 55 grams. Both sexes are similar in appearance, with a brown plumage that is paler on the underparts and a distinctive crest on the head, which is raised prominently during displays. The tail is short with light brown outer feathers, and the underwings exhibit a reddish hue in flight.

Adult Crested Larks are characterized by their brown, streaky plumage with a paler underside. The young birds can be identified by the additional spots on their backs. The species' most notable feature is its crest, which can be seen at all times but is particularly prominent during territorial or courtship displays. In flight, the reddish underwings are a key identification marker.

The Crested Lark is found in dry, open landscapes such as fields, roadsides, and wastelands. It has adapted well to human-altered environments and can often be seen in areas with sparse vegetation, such as sandy patches near railways, docks, and airfields.

This lark has a wide range across temperate Eurasia, from Portugal to northeastern China and eastern India, and in Africa down to Niger. It is a resident bird, meaning it does not migrate seasonally. However, it is a rare vagrant to Great Britain.

The Crested Lark is known for its undulating flight pattern and its melodious, warbling song, which can be heard from high in the sky or at ground level. It is a territorial bird that sings to establish its presence, often from a height of 30 to 60 meters.

The song of the Crested Lark is a liquid series of notes, often transcribed as "whee-whee-wheeoo" or "twee-tee-too." It is a characteristic sound of open country in its range.

The Crested Lark nests on the ground in shallow depressions, using dead grasses and roots to construct its nest. It typically lays three to five brown, finely speckled eggs, which hatch after about 11 to 12 days. The young are precocial and leave the nest early, becoming fully fledged at around 15 to 16 days old. The species often raises two broods per year.

Primarily vegetarian, the Crested Lark feeds on grains and seeds such as oats, wheat, and barley. It also consumes insects, particularly beetles. Juveniles are fed by both parents and start foraging on their own shortly before they are capable of flight.

13-8-2021 PARQUE DE JESUITAS, SALAMANCA - WESTERN BONELLI'S WARBLER (Phylloscopus bonelli)

The western Bonelli's warbler (Phylloscopus bonelli) is a warbler in the leaf warbler genus Phylloscopus. It was formerly regarded as the western subspecies of a wider "Bonelli's warbler" species, but as a result of modern taxonomic developments, they are now usually considered to be two species:

Western Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus bonelli, which breeds in southwest Europe and north Africa

Eastern Bonelli's warbler, Phylloscopus orientalis, which breeds in southeast Europe and Asia Minor

The breeding ranges of the two species do not overlap; while their appearance and songs are very similar, the calls are completely different (see below). They also show marked difference in mtDNA sequence.

The species is migratory, wintering in sub-Saharan Africa. It is a rare vagrant in Northern Europe.

The genus name Phylloscopus is from Ancient Greek phullon, "leaf", and skopos, "seeker" (from skopeo, "to watch"). The English name and the specific bonelli are for the Italian ornithologist Franco Andrea Bonelli.

Western Bonelli's warbler is a small passerine bird, found in forest and woodland. Four to six eggs are laid in a nest on the ground. The eggs are white with reddish-brown markings and are laid in clutches of 3-5 eggs. The incubation period is around 14 days long, and the chicks fledge after 10-14 days. Cuckoo nest predation and brood parasitism are major hazards to the breeding success of western Bonelli's warblers. Like most warblers, western Bonelli's warbler is insectivorous.

The adult has a plain grey-green back, green-toned rump and wings and whitish underparts. The bill is small and pointed and the legs brown. The sexes are identical, as with most warblers.

The western Bonelli's warbler has a browner tinge to the upperparts than the eastern Bonelli's warbler; the latter sometimes has a greenish tinge instead. The song is a fast monotone trill, only slightly different from eastern Bonelli's, and also with some similarity to the wood warbler. The call of the western Bonelli's warbler is a disyllabic hu-it, differing from that of the eastern Bonelli's warbler which is a hard chup, reminiscent of a crossbill or a house sparrow.

13-8-2021 PARQUE DE JESUITAS, SALAMANCA - COAL TIT (Periparus ater)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/144823-Periparus-ater

12-8-2021 , PLAZA DE LIBERTAD, SALAMANCA - HOUSE SPARROW (MALE) (Passer domesticus)

Male House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) are highly social, adaptable urban birds distinguished from females by their striking black throat bibs, bright chestnut napes, and gray crowns. Weighing 25–30 grams and measuring 14–15 cm, they thrive alongside human settlements, relying on opportunistic diets of seeds, grains, and urban scraps.

Distinctive Plumage & StatusThe Bib: A male’s black bib (or throat patch) is a direct indicator of his status within the flock. Studies show males with larger, darker bibs rank higher, hold the safest feeding spots, and secure the best breeding territories.

Colors: They have a steel-gray crown, white cheeks, and a rich rufous-brown back heavily streaked with black.

Sexual Dimorphism: Females are much more drab, featuring plain brown and buff plumage for camouflage while nesting, lacking both the bib and bright markings.

Vocalizations: Males are highly vocal, using their loud, repetitive chirps and cheeps to declare territory and attract mates during the breeding season.

12-8-2021 RIO TORMES, SALAMANCA - WHITE FEATHERLEG DAMSELFLY (Platycnemis latipes)

As well as the diagnostic broad, 'feathery' white legs, it generally has a paler blue body to help distinguish it from the other blue damselflies. The pale chestnut wing spots are also characteristic. Immature males and females are mostly creamy white (form lactea). Females take on a very pale green colour on maturity.

This damselfly favours slow moving rivers and canals with luxuriant vegetation.

It can be seen from mid May to mid August.

The males engage in a courtship display to woo the female, raising its front white legs in front of the female as part of the act.

In Britain it is found in mainly lowland areas, up to the Midlands. It is uncommon but can become locally frequent.

The White-legged Damselfly is a species that reaches the current northern limits of its UK distribution in VC 55. It favours unshaded sections of streams, rivers and canals with a moderate to slow flow but is present at only a handful of localities in the counties; this suggests that other, as yet unknown, factors may influence its distribution. The White-legged Damselfly is found along the full length on the Ashby Canal and on the Grand Union Canal south of Leicester City. It also occurs along the Rivers Wreake and Eye and the Gaddesby and Queniborough Brooks in north-east Leicestershire. Its distribution follows the Rivers Avon and Welland along the southern boundary of both Leicestershire and Rutland and also their tributaries in the form of the Eye Brook and River Chater. Of note is an apparently dramatic range extension north along the Ashby Canal in 2006. Prior to this date there had only been three records on this watercourse, while in 2006 it was found in virtually every 1 km Ordnance Survey grid square along the canal. Historic records show that the White-legged Damselfly has always been uncommon in VC 55, with Corbet et al (1960) classing it as 'extinct or status very uncertain'.

12-8-2021 RIO TORMES, SALAMANCA - MALLARD (FEMALE) (Anas platyrhynchos)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/6930-Anas-platyrhynchos

9-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - TROGULID HARVESTMEN (Trogulus schoenhoferi)

Trogulus schoenhoferi is a newly described species of trogulid harvestman, a type of soil-dwelling arachnid belonging to the family Trogulidae within the order Opiliones. Formally classified by scientists Prieto, Merino-Sáinz, and Hernández-Corral, this specialized arachnid was discovered and mapped in the Mediterranean scrublands of the Alicante province in Spain. Like other members of its genus, it is a highly specialized predator that lives entirely within the topsoil and leaf litter layers.

A prominent, bifurcated hood projects forward from their head. This specialized structure completely shields their mouthparts from above. They possess short legs relative to typical long-legged harvestmen. Their bodies are adapted for pushing through dense soil and leaf debris.  

They prey almost exclusively on terrestrial snails. Their specialized head anatomy helps them navigate inside snail shells. 

10-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - COMMON WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus)

The Common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus) is a member of the dove and pigeon family (Columbidae), native to the western Palearctic. It has historically been known as the Ring dove, and is locally known in southeast England as the "culver"; the latter name has given rise to several areas known for keeping pigeons to be named after it, such as Culver Down.

The Common wood pigeon is a large member of the dove and pigeon family. Adult birds bear a series of green and white patches on their necks and a pink patch on their chest. Juvenile birds do not have white patches on either side of the neck. When they are about six months old they gain small white patches on both sides of the neck; these patches gradually enlarge until they are fully formed when the bird is about 6-8 months old. Juvenile birds also have a greyer beak and an overall lighter grey appearance than adults.

9-8-2021 ARANJEUZ, MADRID - EUROPEAN GOLDFINCH (Carduelis carduelis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/9398-Carduelis-carduelis

6-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - WIDE WINGED DOTTED GRASSHOPPER (Brachycrotaphus tryxalicerus)

The Wide-winged Dotted Grasshopper (Brachycrotaphus tryxalicerus) is a slant-faced grasshopper primarily found across Africa, SE Spain, and Sicily. It inhabits hot, dry, and semi-arid lowlands and relies exclusively on specific savanna-type grasses like Hyparrhenia hirta for both food and shelter.

Key Behavioral and Ecological Facts

Vertical Camouflage: Because its host plants typically grow in dense stands, the grasshopper has adapted to rest vertically along the stems and leaves to evade predators.

Slant-faced Appearance: Classified under the subfamily Gomphocerinae, it features an elongated, slanted head shape.

Habitat Specificity: It is highly dependent on specific grass ecosystems, earning it the alternative name "Savanna Grasshopper".

Mediterranean Presence: While widely distributed in Africa, it is one of the few afrotropical species to also inhabit the southern Mediterranean, with confirmed populations in Sicily and Sardinia.

4-8-2021 CREU DE LONGA, VALENCIA - GREY HERON (Ardea cinerea)

Large wader (approx 102 cm or 3.5 ft) with an also large wingspan (approx 175 cm or 5.5 ft). Stylized silhouette and long neck. Greyish plumage in general. White head in adults with black forelock and long, black feathers like a plume. Light neck with dark lines. Ashen back and dark spot on the shoulders. Lighter belly. Long, sharp, yellow bill. Yellow legs. Silhouette in flight with neck folded in the shape of an "s" and stretched legs.

Its habitats are principally Wetlands, River and Riverside

It lives in all types of wetlands with salty or fresh water in winter. In the breeding season it needs wetlands with nearby tree vegetation. Also in Reservoirs, lagoons, ditches and irrigation ponds, stream banks, coast line.

This pecies is present in the province all year round, both as a wintering one and in the breeding period. There are also specimens in migratory passage. Gregarious during the reproductive season and lonelier during the rest of the year. Nest in trees or groves of riparian vegetation. One laying of 2 to 5 eggs. The Grey Heron feeds on fish, micromammals, small reptiles, including snakes, amphibians and insects. It shows a very calm behaviour when foraging. This bird explores the water while being very still, waiting for a prey to appear. Once sighted, it shoots the bill as if it were a harpoon.

4-8-2021 ALDAIA, VALENCIA - BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)

The barn swallow (Hirundo rustica) is the most widespread species of swallow in the world, occurring on all continents, with vagrants reported even in Antarctica. It is a distinctive passerine bird with blue upperparts and a long, deeply forked tail. In Anglophone Europe, it is just called the swallow; in northern Europe, it is the only member of family Hirundinidae called a "swallow" rather than a "martin".

There are eight subspecies of barn swallow, which breed across the Northern Hemisphere. Two subspecies (H. r. savignii and H. r. transitiva) have fairly restricted ranges in the Nile valley and eastern Mediterranean, respectively.  The other six are more widespread, with winter ranges covering much of the Southern Hemisphere. 

The barn swallow is a bird of open country that normally nests in man-made structures and consequently has spread with human expansion. It builds a cup nest from mud pellets in barns or similar structures and feeds on insects caught in flight. This species lives in close association with humans, and its insect-eating habits mean that it is tolerated by humans; this acceptance was reinforced in the past by superstitions regarding the bird and its nest. There are frequent cultural references to the barn swallow in literary and religious works due to both its living in close proximity to humans and its annual migration. The barn swallow is the national bird of Austria and Estonia.

The adult male barn swallow of the nominate subspecies H. r. rustica is 17–19 cm (6+1⁄2–7+1⁄2 in) long including 2–7 cm (1–3 in) of elongated outer tail feathers. It has a wingspan of 32–34.5 cm (12+1⁄2–13+1⁄2 in) and weighs 16–22 g (9⁄16–3⁄4 oz). It has steel blue upperparts and a rufous forehead, chin and throat, which are separated from the off-white underparts by a broad dark blue breast band. The outer tail feathers are elongated, giving the distinctive deeply forked "swallow tail". There is a line of white spots across the outer end of the upper tail. The female is similar in appearance to the male, but the tail streamers are shorter, the blue of the upperparts and breast band is less glossy, and the underparts paler. The juvenile is browner and has a paler rufous face and whiter underparts. It also lacks the long tail streamers of the adult.

Although both sexes sing, female song was only recently described.  Calls include witt or witt-witt and a loud splee-plink when excited or trying to chase intruders away from the nest. The alarm calls include a sharp siflitt for predators like cats and a flitt-flitt for birds of prey like the hobby. This species is fairly quiet on the wintering grounds.

The distinctive combination of a red face and blue breast band renders the adult barn swallow easy to distinguish from the African Hirundo species and from the welcome swallow (Hirundo neoxena) with which its range overlaps in Australasia. In Africa the short tail streamers of the juvenile barn swallow invite confusion with juvenile red-chested swallow (Hirundo lucida), but the latter has a narrower breast band and more white in the tail.

4-8-2021 ALDAIA, VALENCIA - COMMON WOOD PIGEON (Columba palumbus)

The common wood pigeon (Columba palumbus), also known simply as the wood pigeon, is a large pigeon native to the western Palearctic. It belongs to the genus Columba, which includes closely related species such as the rock dove (Columba livia). It has a flexible diet, feeding mainly on plant material, including cereals, and is therefore considered an agricultural pest. Wood pigeons are extensively hunted over much of their range, but this does not appear to have a major impact on their population numbers.

The three Western European Columba pigeons, common wood pigeon, stock dove and rock dove, though superficially alike, have very distinctive characteristics; the common wood pigeon may be identified at once by its larger size at 38–44.5 cm (15–17+1⁄2 in) and weight 300–615 g (10+5⁄8–21+3⁄4 oz), and the white on its neck and wing. It is otherwise a basically grey bird, with a pinkish breast. The wingspan can range from 68 to 80 cm (27 to 31 in) and the wing chord measures 24 to 25.4 cm (9+1⁄2 to 10 in). The tail measures 13.8 to 15 cm (5+1⁄2 to 6 in), the bill is 1.9 to 2.2 cm (3⁄4 to 7⁄8 in) and the tarsus is 2.5 to 2.8 cm (1 to 1+1⁄8 in). Adult birds bear a series of green and white patches on their necks, and a pink patch on their chest. The eye colour is a pale yellow, in contrast to that of rock doves, which is orange-red, and the stock dove, which is dark grey-brown to black.

4-8-2021 BONAIRE, VALENCIA - EUROPEAN BEE-EATER (Merops apiaster)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/2191-Merops-apiaster

4-8-2021 ALDAIA, VALENCIA - EURASIAN KESTREL (Falco tinnunculus)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/472766-Falco-tinnunculus

2-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - POTTER AND MASON WASP (Eumenes mediterraneus)

The Mediterranean potter wasp (Eumenes mediterraneus) is a solitary, non-aggressive wasp belonging to the family Vespidae and subfamily Eumeninae. It is famous for building tiny, free-standing, urn-shaped clay nests on twigs or walls that resemble miniature pottery.

Key Facts

• Behavior: Solitary insects that do not form colonies or guard large nests.

• Nesting: Females mix mud with saliva to shape tiny pot-like chambers, lay a single egg inside, and provision it with paralyzed caterpillars to feed the developing larva.

• Diet: Adults feed on nectar and pollen from flowers, while larvae eat live, paralyzed insect protein.

• Human Impact: Completely beneficial to gardens as pollinators and natural pest controllers; they rarely sting unless trapped or handled directly.

2-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - CATALONIA WALL LIZARD (Podarcis liolepis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/35666-Podarcis-liolepis

2-8-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - ANGLE MOTH (Itame vincularia)

Itame vincularia is a species of geometer moth in the family Geometridae, typically found in North Africa and parts of Europe, including Spain, Portugal, and France. Known as the Fidonie du Nerprun in French, its larvae feed on Rhamnus infectoria and Frangula alnus. The moth has a wingspan of approximately 28–32 mm. 

Key Facts About Itame vincularia:

Taxonomy: Classified under Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Arthropoda, Class Insecta, Order Lepidoptera, and Family Geometridae.

Scientific Name: Itame vincularia (Hübner, 1813).

Synonyms: Geometra vincularia Hübner 1813, Tephrina mrassinaria Oberthür, 1923, and Itame atlantis Prout, 1928.

Habitat & Distribution: Primarily found in dry, Mediterranean, and North African regions.

2-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - WHITE ANGLED SULPHUR BUTTERFLY (Anteos clorinde)

 

Anteos clorinde, the white angled-sulphur, is a butterfly of the family Pieridae. The species was originally described by Jean-Baptiste Godart in 1824.

It is found in South America, Central America, and southern North America.

The wingspan is 70–90 mm. The butterfly flies year round in the tropical parts of its range and from August to December in the north.

The larvae feed on Senna spectabilis.

2-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - AMANDA'S BLUE BUTTERFLY (Polyommatus amandus)

Polyommatus amandus, the Amanda's blue, is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae. It is found in the Palearctic realm.

With a wingspan of 29 to 35 mm (1.1 to 1.4 in), Amanda's blue is noticeably larger than most of the "blue" butterflies, which is particularly apparent when they are flying. The upperside of the male's wings is a silvery blue or sky blue, often, but not always, with a broad dark border and a narrow black marginal line with an outermost white line. The upperside of the female's wings is in some populations dark blue edged with brown but in other populations is medium brown with a row of orange half-moon shaped lunules near the edges. The hind margin has red blotches. The underside of the male's wings are light grey with white-edged black blotches. The underside of the female's wings is similar but they are a rich creamy-brown colour with red blotches, especially on the margins of the hindwings and a series of black spots with white rims, often touching, forming a row parallel to the margin of the wings. The basal areas of the underwings are turquoise. The wingspan is 28 to 36 mm (1.1 to 1.4 in).

22-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - POSTMAN BUTTERFLY (Heliconius melpomene)

Heliconius melpomene, the postman butterfly, common postman or simply postman, is a brightly colored, geographically variable butterfly species found throughout Central and South America. It was first described by Carl Linnaeus in his 1758 10th edition of Systema Naturae. Its coloration coevolved with another member of the genus, H. erato, as a warning to predators of its inedibility; this is an example of Müllerian mimicry. H. melpomene was one of the first butterfly species observed to forage for pollen, a behavior that is common in other insect groups but rare in butterflies. Because of the recent rapid evolutionary radiation of the genus Heliconius and overlapping of its habitat with other related species, H. melpomene has been the subject of extensive study on speciation and hybridization. These hybrids tend to have low fitness as they look different from the original species and no longer exhibit Müllerian mimicry.

Heliconius melpomene possesses ultraviolet vision which enhances its ability to distinguish subtle differences between markings on the wings of other butterflies. This allows the butterfly to avoid mating with other species that share the same geographic range.

2-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - BLACK VEINED WHITE BUTTERFLY (Aporia crataegi)

Aporia crataegi, the black-veined white, is a large butterfly of the family Pieridae. A. crataegi is widespread and common. Its range extends from northwest Africa in the west to Transcaucasia and across the Palearctic to Siberia and Japan in the east. In the south, it is found in Turkey, Cyprus, Israel, Lebanon and Syria. It is not usually present in the British Isles or northern Scandinavia.

It occurs in open forest, grazing land, orchards. lanes, gardens, meadows and thickets throughout most of Europe, temperate Asia, Korea, and Japan. This species has been extirpated from the British Isles, but unofficial attempts have been made to reintroduce this species in southern England.

2-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - LIGURIAN EMPEROR MOTH (Saturnia pavoniella)

Saturnia pavoniella is a moth of the family Saturniidae. It is found in the alpine regions of Austria, Italy (including Sicily) and the Czech Republic across south-eastern Europe to northern Turkey and the Caucasus. It is possibly also present in south-eastern France.

The wingspan is 45–70 mm (1.8–2.8 in) for males and 50–95 mm (2.0–3.7 in) for females. Adults are on wing from February to June. In northern Greece they are mainly found in May.

The larvae feed on a wide variety of plants. Recorded foodplants include Rubus, Prunus spinosa, Crataegus, Quercus, Carpinus, Betula, Salix, Erica, Vaccinium, Spiraea, Filipendula, Lythrum, Potentilla, Rosa, Callun.

Flight and Behavior: Adults emerge in early spring (March to May) depending on the region's latitude. Males are diurnal (day-flying) and actively search for females, whereas females fly mainly at night.

Life Cycle: A female will pair several times and lay 200 to 250 spherical, pale eggs. After 10 to 15 days, they hatch into L1 larvae.

Larval Stages: Caterpillars progress through stages—starting black and bristly, developing orange spots in later stages, and becoming vibrant green with yellow/orange tubercles in their final stage. They can exceed 95 mm in length and feed on host plants like apple, plum, blackthorn, bramble, and willow.

Pupation: Fully grown caterpillars spin hard, pear-shaped, brown cocoons between the branches of host plants. The species overwinters entirely in this pupa stage.

Comparison: While similar to the closely related Northern or Small Emperor Moth (Saturnia pavonia), the Ligurian Emperor is slightly larger and males feature a much paler band on the hindwing's inner margin. The progeny of any hybrids between the two are infertile.

2-8-2021 SPACE MUSEUM, CUENCA - SOUTHERN FESTOON BUTTERFLY (Zerynthia polyxena)

Zerynthia polyxena, the southern festoon, is a butterfly belonging to the butterfly family Papilionidae.

These rare butterflies can be found in warm, sunny and open places such as grassy herb-rich meadows, vineyards, river banks, wetlands, cultivated areas, brushy places, wasteland, rocky cliffs and karst terrains, at an elevation of from 0 to 1,700 metres above sea level but usually below 900 metres.

It is an early spring butterfly. Adults fly from April to June in a single brood. The adults are active for no more than three weeks. The females lay their eggs singly or in small groups at the bottom of the host plants. When found in the wild they prefer to live and lay their eggs in densely vegetated areas, and there is a positive correlation between number of leaves on the host plant and number of eggs laid by females. The eggs are spherical and whitish at first, bluish colored before hatching. The caterpillars feed on birthworts (mainly (Aristolochia clematitis, Aristolochia rotunda, Aristolochia pistolochia, Aristolochia pallida). The special food of the larvae provides the toxic substances which then also go to the adults, making them unpalatable. The young caterpillars feed at first on flowers and young shoots, while after the second molt they feed on leaves. The pupae stay linked to a support by a silk belt for wintering and the new adults hatch the next spring.