Southern Festoon vs Cardo Longhorn
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southern Festoon | Cardo Longhorn |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Zerynthia polyxena | Agapanthia cardui |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Cerambycidae |
| Size | 46-56 mm wingspan | 8-15 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Pollen Feeders |
| Regions | Southern and eastern Europe | Mediterranean Europe, North Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern (protected in many countries) | Least Concern |
Southern Festoon
A strikingly patterned butterfly with yellow wings marked with black zigzags and red spots. It is one of Europe's earliest spring butterflies and resembles a small, ornate kite.
Did You Know?
Its larvae sequester toxic aristolochic acids from their food plant, making all life stages unpalatable to birds.
Cardo Longhorn
A strikingly patterned longhorn with alternating bands of grey and dark pubescence on the elytra. It specializes on thistle stems across the Mediterranean basin. Adults appear in late spring and are active on warm sunny days.
Did You Know?
The species name cardui comes from the Latin for thistle, reflecting its exclusive association with these plants.