An intriguing butterfly, rather similar to its cousin, the Southern Festoon (Z. polyxena), with which it shares the same larval hostplant species Aristolochia (common name: Birthwort, or some species of Birthwort). Rumina uses A. pistolochia (see 32227) in my experience, whereas polyxena uses A. rotunda. Rumina has a European distribution limited to the Iberian peninsula (hence the English name) and extending east to southern France; polyxena has an easterly distribution extending west into Provence. The département of Var and the surrounding region is where they overlap and both can be seen.

In 2006 I found them in small numbers, often just singles, in a variety of locations, but in 2007 and 2008 did not see quite as many. 2009 to 2011 seemed slightly better years, so maybe the numbers fluctuate from year to year. However, in 2013, they enjoyed a very good year, the best I have ever seen in Var, and an extended flight period well into June; on one occasion I counted 25 or more at a single location. It is an early season butterfly, single-brooded with a flight period of April-May, but tends to emerge slightly later than polyxena and stay on the wing until the third week in May.

The subspecies medesicaste, with increased red markings on the hindwing submargins and in the hindwing basal area, is supposedly common, and may well be the predominant subspecies in southern France.

There is a very rare form honnoratii which has extended uph post-discal red marks, but I do not believe that this form has been seen for many decades with the last "official" sighting (In France, at least) being in 1991.

observations

almost impossible to tell which sex. This must be quite a fresh specimen as there seems little scale loss.

a fresher specimen, with the deep red contrasting nicely with the black.