Papilionidae: Parnassiinae

06945 Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena, ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775)

BF -- (ABH56.000)

nr Primorsko, Black Sea coast. 12th May 2019. Male.
nr Primorsko, Black Sea coast. 12th May 2019. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
nr Primorsko, Black Sea coast. 12th May 2019. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
 2010-2016
 2017
 2018
 2019
nr Primorsko, Black Sea coast. 12th May 2019. Male.
nr Primorsko, Black Sea coast. 12th May 2019. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
nr Primorsko, Black Sea coast. 12th May 2019. Female ovipositing.
nr Primorsko, Black Sea coast. 12th May 2019. Female ovipositing.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Asenovgrad, 2004.  Male. 1 of 2
Asenovgrad, 2004. Male. 1 of 2
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Asenovgrad, June 2004. Male. 2 of 2.
Asenovgrad, June 2004. Male. 2 of 2.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Alepu marshes. Black Sea coast. 12-05-2019.
Alepu marshes. Black Sea coast. 12-05-2019.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
SW Bulgaria, 12th May 2015. Male.
SW Bulgaria, 12th May 2015. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Slavyanka foothills, SW Bulgaria, 5th May 2014.
Slavyanka foothills, SW Bulgaria, 5th May 2014.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Slavyanka foothills, SW Bulgaria, 5th May 2014.
Slavyanka foothills, SW Bulgaria, 5th May 2014.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Slavyanka foothills, SW Bulgaria, 5th May 2014.
Slavyanka foothills, SW Bulgaria, 5th May 2014.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Slavyanka Mtn. foothills, SW Bulgaria, 12-05-2015. Male.
Slavyanka Mtn. foothills, SW Bulgaria, 12-05-2015. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Struma valley, N of Blageovgrad. 3rd Mat 2014. Male.
Struma valley, N of Blageovgrad. 3rd Mat 2014. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Bobochevo, Struma valley, 26th June 2006.
Bobochevo, Struma valley, 26th June 2006.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Debel Dyal, west of Gabrovo. 11th July 2014. Final instar on Aristolochia.
Debel Dyal, west of Gabrovo. 11th July 2014. Final instar on Aristolochia.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies


General Information

In Europe this species occurs across southern Europe from the Balkans to SE France. Outside Europe Its range extends eastwards to the Southern Urals and Northwest Kazakhstan.

 

In Bulgaria it is widespread but local.  It flies in the spring at low altitudes and in mountain foothills.

 

Although it does not appear to be threatened in Bulgaria, the species is included as a protected species in Appendix II of the Bern Convention as it has generally declined throughout its range. It is extinct in Germany and Switzerland.

 

Like those of the Eastern Festoon (Zerynthia cerisy), the larvae are often easy to spot on their fooplant, where (though they are often sitting in the shade of the leaves of their hostplant), they are poorly camouflaged. Presumably they rely on their toxicity to protect them from predation. They pupate away from their foodplant on the more substantial stems of woody plants etc., and sometimes on the walls and sheltered parts of buildings.

 

They are easy to separate from the larvae of their earlier flying cogener the Eastern Festoon as they have dark tips to their spiky tubercles. For comparison see photos of larvae under both species here.


Foodplant(s): Birthwort (Aristolochia)
UK Presence: Resident
National status: Near Threatened

Habitat

It occurs in a variety of damp and dry shrubby grasslands and waste places where its foodplant grows, including in agricultural settings.

Regional Information

Recorded in 25 (1.3%) of the 1900 10km squares of Bulgaria.

Last recorded in June 2019

Recorded date range (Adult): 03 May to 29 June

Recorded date range (Larva/Leafmine): 11 July to 11 July

Similar Species
Arda valley, Eastern Rhodopi Mtns., 14th June 2013. Male.
Arda valley, Eastern Rhodopi Mtns., 14th June 2013. Male.
 Photo © Nick Greatorex-Davies
Eastern Festoon Zerynthia cerisy

Near Threatened