Proserpine Zerynthia rumina
The species Zerynthia rumina, also called the proserpine in French, (Spanish festoon in English and harlequin in Spanish), is a 4.4 cm wingspan butterfly found in North Africa and southwest Europe.
There is a subspecies specific to Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia called Zerynthia rumina africana.
Its flight period extends from February to July, but the butterflies of this species flap their wings mainly in April-May.
They can be found foraging on their favorite plant, the aristolochia, among the scree and scrubland.
But they can also hover at 1,200 m altitude, where they fly early from February.
The proserpine flutters around the aristolochia, this food plant of the caterpillar, from the mesophilic meadows and the uncultivated fallows of hilly landscapes to the edges and clearings of open forests.
It is even found near homes.
Its presence testifies both to the biological quality of the place, because its larva does not resist phytosanitary products, and to the absence of overgrazing which is fatal to its plant due to trampling.
Intensive clearing is also very harmful because the aristolochia is a friend of shade.
There is a subspecies specific to Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia called Zerynthia rumina africana.
Its flight period extends from February to July, but the butterflies of this species flap their wings mainly in April-May.
They can be found foraging on their favorite plant, the aristolochia, among the scree and scrubland.
But they can also hover at 1,200 m altitude, where they fly early from February.
The proserpine flutters around the aristolochia, this food plant of the caterpillar, from the mesophilic meadows and the uncultivated fallows of hilly landscapes to the edges and clearings of open forests.
It is even found near homes.
Its presence testifies both to the biological quality of the place, because its larva does not resist phytosanitary products, and to the absence of overgrazing which is fatal to its plant due to trampling.
Intensive clearing is also very harmful because the aristolochia is a friend of shade.