SOUTHERN FESTOON
In the Mediterranean, the first flights of the festoon butterflies announce the arrival of Spring. A beautiful butterfly, ranging from 46-52mm overall wingspan. The basic colour of the wings is yellow, with a complicated pattern of several black bands and spots. On the edges of the hind wings, they have a black sinuous line with a series of blue and red warning spots to deter predators. The bright patterns wear out with time, and end up a grey blur, although the adults are only active for no more than 3 weeks.
The caterpillars feed solely on birthworts, which contain toxic substances, which are then passed on to the adults, making them inedible. The caterpillars grow up to 35mm in length, initially black, then becoming yellowish, with 6 rows of fleshy orange and black spikes all over the body. You can find these butterflies mainly in April, in warm, sunny, open places, such as vineyards, meadows, riverbanks and rocky cliffs and scrubland. The butterflies I have seen so far, seem to favour brambles.
