Sightings of Southern Festoon in 2025

The Southern Festoon Zerynthia polyxena is a Mediterranean butterfly that flies between March and May. The first sighting of 2025 was collected on 1 March 2025 in Nîmes (this superb photograph). As of 12 March, it remains the only record on Faune-France.

 

The butterfly's caterpillar develops on various species of aristolochia, most commonly on round-leaved aristolochia. The plant is widespread throughout the Mediterranean area, as well as in the Garonne basin and in an area between Bordeaux (33) and Royan (17). To date, the butterfly does not seem to have colonised these latter areas, where the plant's localities are perhaps still too scattered.

 

The Southern Festoon should not be confused with the Proserpine Zerynthia rumana, which flies in the same regions and on the same dates.

 

Image caption: Southern Festoon, with forewings not dotted with red © Yann Ponthieux.

 

Map based on collective data from Faune-France and its partners. No use authorised without a favourable opinion from the LPO.