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Zerynthia rumina, the Spanish festoon, is a butterfly belonging to the family Papilionidae. It is a widespread species in Iberia and frequents most habitats.
North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France.
Zerynthia rumina is an extremely striking species. In south east France it can be confused with the southern festoon (Zerynthia polyxena). The two can be told apart by the presence of blue on the hindwing of the southern festoon. The Spanish festoon also has extensive red on the forewings.
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The Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) is a striking springtime butterfly in Southern Europe/North Africa, known for its bright yellow, black, and red patterns, feeding on Birthwort (Aristolochia) plants, which makes it unpalatable to predators, with males being territorial and flying low in sunny, scrubby habitats from March to June, laying eggs singly on host plants.
Key Facts
Appearance: Features vibrant yellow, black, and red markings, with a unique "dazzle" pattern for predator confusion; wings often held wide open at rest.
Diet: Caterpillars feed exclusively on Aristolochia (Birthwort) plants, making them toxic to predators, a trait retained into adulthood.
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The Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) is a striking springtime butterfly in Southern Europe/North Africa, known for its bright yellow, black, and red patterns, feeding on Birthwort (Aristolochia) plants, which makes it unpalatable to predators, with males being territorial and flying low in sunny, scrubby habitats from March to June, laying eggs singly on host plants.
Key Facts
Appearance: Features vibrant yellow, black, and red markings, with a unique "dazzle" pattern for predator confusion; wings often held wide open at rest.
Diet: Caterpillars feed exclusively on Aristolochia (Birthwort) plants, making them toxic to predators, a trait retained into adulthood.
Habitat: Prefers dry, stony, scrubby grasslands and woodland edges in the Iberian Peninsula, Southern France, and North Africa.
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Flight: A single brood flies in spring (March-June); adults are active for only a few weeks, flying low and erratically.
Behavior: Males are territorial, patrolling for females; after mating, females lay eggs singly on host plants.
Identification: Easily distinguished from the similar Southern Festoon by its strong red markings on the forewings, notes euroButterflies.com.
Life Cycle & Habits
Eggs: Laid singly on birthwort, turning bluish before hatching.
Caterpillars: Feed on birthwort flowers and leaves, becoming spiny and toxic.
Pupation: Overwinters as a chrysalis, attached to a support.
Adults: Feed on nectar from lavenders and thymes but focus on reproduction; their short lifespan means females lay eggs quickly.
