top of page
Butterfly populations are a very good indicator of the health of an area's ecosystem !!
Zerynthia rumina is found in North Africa, the Iberian Peninsula and southern France, where their preferred habitat is hot, dry, scrubby areas, flowery meadows and gorges, typically at elevations between sea level and about 1000 m although they have been seen as high as 1500 m.
They can be seen on wing in April and May with the possibility of a very small second brood in September.
They overwinter in the chrysalis stage.
Adults have a very delicate flight, pausing frequently to take nectar at flowers.
In the evenings they roost on bushes in a position with their abdomens arched.
Zerynthia rumina are cream to light orange, marked with black spots and bands with a translucent window at the apex of the forewing, nearby a red macule and three other red spots, two of which are in the cell.
The hindwings are adorned with a row of submarginal red spots.
They have a unique defense mechanism in which they secrete a liquid that repels predators, a trait rarely seen in other butterfly species.
Potential predators include birds, spiders, lizards, small mammals and rodents.
Diet: caterpillars feed predominantly on the leaves of Aristolochia rotonda, Aristolochia pistolochia and Aristolochiana bicularis.
Diet: adults take nectar from Lavender, Thyme, Buddleia, Ivy and Valerian, among others.
Adult body length: 4 - 5 cm / 1.57 – 1.97 “
Family: Papilionidae
The single biggest threat to butterfly survival is habitat destruction!!
bottom of page