Southern Festoon vs Narrow-headed Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southern Festoon | Narrow-headed Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Zerynthia polyxena | Formica exsecta |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Papilionidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 46-56 mm wingspan | 4-7 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern and eastern Europe | Europe, Northern Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern (protected in many countries) | Near Threatened |
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.
Narrow-headed Ant
A bicolored red and black wood ant with a distinctly notched head. It builds low thatched mounds in open heathland and is declining across much of its European range.
Did You Know?
In the UK it is one of the rarest ant species and is legally protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act.