Zerynthia polyxena Insect Butterfly Papilionidae Swallowtail

Zerynthia polyxena one wing lenght cm 2.5-3 Insect Butterfly Papilionidae Swallowtail.
Common name: The Southern Festoon.
Syn. Parnalius polyxena, Papilio cassandra, Papilio creusa, Papilio hypermnestra, Papilio hypsipyle.

Zerynthia polyxena (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) is a diurnal moth belonging to the Papilionidae family, widespread in Eurasia.
The wingspan is 50–60 mm. The caterpillars feed on various species of aristolochia. The particular diet of the larvae provides them with toxic substances, which then also pass to the adult butterflies, making them inedible. The color of the adult's livery, yellow, with characteristic black and red designs, is called "aposematic" (i.e. "warning"), as it serves precisely to discourage potential predators. It is present throughout Italy, with the exception of Sardinia, but is uncommon everywhere.