I first saw polyxena in April 2005, five or six individuals nectaring on a sunny bank. This was a "life tick" (a first ever sighting)  and, I don't need to emphasize, a great thrill as it had been on my "must see" list for some time.

It has a characteristic short "buzzy" flight and never seemed to go more than a few metres, settling on low vegetation. However, having spent the spring in Var for the past six years, I have had the opportunity to visit a number of possible sites for polyxena and its close relative the Spanish Festoon (Z. rumina), and found them at most sites, so I now believe both of these species are quite widespread although rarely in large numbers. The polyxena larval hostplant Aristolochia rotunda (common nameRound-leaved Birthwort) seems to be quite plentiful in this region.

I believe that all polyxena in this region are of the form cassandra that occurs in southern France, more heavily marked generally, and with more extensive red uph submarginal marks.

It has a very early flight period, emerging at the beginning of April, or even earlier, and has largely disappeared by the end of the first week in May. As such, its flight period seems to be about a week or so ahead of rumina. It is magnificent when fresh but seems to be prone to losing scales, especially the red and blue scales, rather quickly and then having a dullish appearance. It appears almost black in flight, the more so when fresh. The sexes are very similar, but I believe (and I could be wrong here) that the female has a stronger red line down each side of the abdomen.

observations

a beautiful fresh specimen, probably a female, based on body width and colouring. The yellow and black contrast is striking and the red and blue scales on the uph submarginal area are intact and immaculate.

this could well be the same individual as 9733, in a typical moth-like pose with the forewings folded down. Very likely a female based on body shape and the dorsal red line.

an underside, showing the same degree of patterning, possibly a female as there is a reddish line on the abdomen, but in the same dorsal region as others on this page.

another underside, with the forewing raised and quite visible. Very likely a female based on the abdominal red line.