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Biology and conservation of Zerynthia cassandra (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) in semi-natural environments and agricultural landscapes

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Abstract

The Southern festoon, Zerynthia polyxena, is a south-European butterfly listed in Annex IV of the Habitats Directive (92/43/EEC). Populations from most of the Italian territory have been recently recognized as belonging to a separate species, endemic to Italy: Zerynthia cassandra. In the province of Bologna (northern Italy), Z. cassandra is quite common. The territory of the province is densely inhabited and modified by man. Semi-natural environments are found almost exclusively in the hills, while the plain is almost entirely built-upon or cultivated. This study was based on data collected in the field in the province of Bologna, and aimed to investigate some biological and ecological aspects of Z. cassandra, with the purpose of identifying the factors that favour its presence and the most relevant issues for its conservation. In the area of study, the hostplant of Z. cassandra is Aristolochia rotunda, which is common in the plain, along the edges of drainage canals, where it supports a large Z. cassandra population. In the hills, A. rotunda is scarcer, and Z. cassandra is present in small separated nodes. Human activities such as mowing and canal maintenance are potentially damaging to Z. cassandra, particularly if carried out when eggs and larvae are present. However, if correctly timed and executed, such maintenance can preserve grassy areas that would otherwise be colonized by bushes and trees, and in which A. rotunda finds a suitable environment. Some level of disturbance can be beneficial for Z. cassandra habitats, favouring the species’ survival in the long term.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank Eddie John FLS, FRES, for the English revision of a previous version of the manuscript and for providing helpful suggestions. Permission for collecting Z. cassandra eggs was accorded to the authors by the Italian Ministry of the Environment (Protocol n. 23054/PNM).

Funding

This study was funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research (RFO funds to M.M).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences (BiGeA), University of Bologna, Via Selmi 3, 40126, Bologna, Italy

    Silvia Ghesini & Mario Marini

  2. Department of Agricultural Sciences (DipSA), University of Bologna, Viale Fanin 44, 40127, Bologna, Italy

    Serena Magagnoli

Authors
  1. Silvia Ghesini
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  2. Serena Magagnoli
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  3. Mario Marini
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Correspondence to Mario Marini.

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This article does not contain any studies with human participants performed by any of the authors. Any applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed.

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Ghesini, S., Magagnoli, S. & Marini, M. Biology and conservation of Zerynthia cassandra (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) in semi-natural environments and agricultural landscapes. J Insect Conserv 22, 151–161 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10841-018-0049-9

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