Zerynthia rumina (Linnaeus, 1758)


Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Andalusia, Spain, Maro, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Andalusia, Maro, 100m asl, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Andalusia, Maro, 100m asl, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Andalusia, Maro, 100m asl, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Sierra Nevada, 1700m asl, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Sierra Nevada, 1700m asl, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Sierra de Huetor, late March 2019) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Sierra de Huetor, late March 2019) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Spain, Sierra de Huetor, late March 2019) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Female (Provence, Sainte Baume) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Female (Sainte Baume, Provence) [M] Zerynthia rumina: Female (Provence, Sainte-Baume, May 2006) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Adult (Provence, May 2006) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Male (Provence, May 2006) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Egg (S-France, Ste. Baume, 21. May 2006) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Egg (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Egg (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Egg (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Ovum [N] Zerynthia rumina: Young larva (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Young larva [N] Zerynthia rumina: Half-grown larva (Provence, May 2006) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Half-grown larva (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Half-grown larva (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Half-grown larva (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Half-grown larva (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Larva [N] Zerynthia rumina: Larva (e.l. Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Larva (e.l. Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Larva (e.l. Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Larva (e.l. Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Larva (e.l. Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Larva (e.l. Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Larva [N] Zerynthia rumina: Larva (Provence, France) [S] Zerynthia rumina: Pupa [S] Zerynthia rumina: Habitat (S-France, Massif Ste Baume, 31. May 2013) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Aristolochia pistolochia with eggs (Provence, Massif de la Sainte Baume, late May 2013) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Larval habitat with Aristolochia pistolochia [N] Zerynthia rumina: Habitat (S-France, Lac de Ste Croix, 20. May 2006) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Larval habitat in Massif de la Sainte Baume in late May 2013 [N] Zerynthia rumina: Habitat, where there also occur Lycaena alciphron, Pyrgus sidae, Gonepteryx cleopatra [N] Zerynthia rumina: Habitat (Andalusia, Maro, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Habitat (Sierra Nevada, 1700m asl, late March 2015) [N] Zerynthia rumina: Habitat (Spain, Sierra de Huetor, late March 2019) [N]

Host plants:
The larvae feed on Aristolochia species, in Southern France almost exclusively on Aristolochia pistolochia. In May 2007, I found there also some eggs and young caterpillars on A. rotunda, together with numerous Zerynthia polyxena.

Habitat:
Zerynthia rumina inhabits light, dry woods, edges of grasslands, dry ravines and other partially open areas with woody stocks.

Life cycle:
In Southern France, Zerynthia rumina occurs in a single generation. Butterflies are observed from mid March to early June, with a later peak than with Zerynthia polyxena. In the French Massif de la Sainte Baume, I found many mostly already worn adults and caterpillars in all instars around 20/05/2006. The caterpillars live between May and early July. The maure caterpillar seems to go through a dormancy of several days to several weeks before it proceeds to pupate. Pupation takes place well concealed on loosely spun twigs or bark. The pupa overwinters. In southern Spain and probably in north Africa according to literature a second generation appears in the spring/winter (or only faked by another strategy of some individuals?). I recorded some butterflies in Andalucia near the cost in extreme dry environments in late September 2017.

Endangerment factors:
Zerynthia rumina is quite common in many places for example in the south of France and there more widespread than Zerynthia polyxena. Thus Zerynthia rumina is presumably still at low risk at least in the relief-rich regions (such as the Haute Provence). In other regions, it is pushed back by expanding agriculture and industry.

Remarks:
Zerynthia rumina occurs from Northwest Africa to southeast France. The distribution overlaps in southern France with Zerynthia polyxena.



Zerynthia cerisy | Zerynthia cretica | Zerynthia polyxena