Spanish Festoon (Zerynthia rumina) | Species | ||||||||
 Taken at Sierra de Espinachao da Cao, Portugal on April 21st 2005. (No data. © David Hastings) DescriptionFamily: Papilionidae Wing span: 44 - 48mm This species has a stunning combination of red and black spots on a yellow background. The male is less heavily marked than the female. It is mainly found on the Iberian peninsula and in southern France. It can be found in hot, dry, rocky places amongst scrub. The flight period is from March to May in a prolonged emergence. The pupa is the over-wintering stage. Larvae feed on various Birthworts (Aristolochia ssp.). Flight is fairly direct and gliding but not strong. It flies gently above the grasses, stopping frequently for nectar or for a rest low down on the leaves or twigs of a bush or tree, or on warm rocks or bare earth. Sightings
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