| Family | Papilionidae |
|---|---|
| Subfamily | Parnassiinae |
| Genus | Zerynthia |
| Species | polyxena |
| Authority | ([Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775) |
| English Name | Southern Festoon |
| European Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
|---|---|
| EU 27 Red List 2010 | Least Concern (LC) |
| European Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| EU 27 Red List 2025 | Least Concern (LC) |
| Habitats Directive | HD IV |
| Bern Convention | BC II |
| CITES |
The caterpillars of the Southern Festoon live on various birthworts, such as Aristolochia clematitis, A. rotunda, A. pallida, and A. pistolochia. Because their foodplants grow in different habitats, and because the caterpillars also have different foodplants in different areas, this spring butterfly can be found in quite different habitats. The eggs are laid singly or in small groups on the underside of the leaves, where the caterpillars are usually also found. The caterpillars have a striking appearance. Otherwise beige with black spots, it has some orange tubercles on each segment, each ending in a black, spiny tuft. The Southern Festoon is single-brooded and hibernates as pupa.
Albania / Austria / Belarus / Bosnia and Herzegovina / Bulgaria / Croatia / Czechia / France / France: Mainland / Germany (Irregular Vagrant) / Greece / Greece: Mainland / Greece: East Aegean Islands / Hungary / Italy / Italy: Mainland / North Macedonia / Moldova / Montenegro / Poland (Irregular Vagrant) / Romania / European Russia / Serbia / Serbia: Serbia / Serbia: Kosovo / Slovakia / Slovenia / Switzerland (Regionally Extinct) / European Türkiye / Ukraine /