The basic color of the wings is yellow, with a complicated pattern of several black bands and spots.

On the edges of the hindwings they have a black sinuous line with a series of blue and red warning spots to deter potential predators (aposematism).

The differences are in the presence of blue on the hind wings of Z. polyxena and the relatively lower amount of red on its forewings compared with Z. rumina.

Such melanotic specimens occur everywhere singly as aberrations, but are found as the only form in some localities, for instance Dalmatia.

(= flavomaculata Schilde, rufescens Oberth., rumina, alba Esp) (9f), however, is everywhere a rare aberration, the red colour of the purple spots being replaced by dark yellow.

— The full-grown larva reddish yellow r black-brown, with pointed setiferous tubercles; in May and June on Aristolochia, especially in moist and warm localities.

Z. polyxena is widespread in the middle and southern Europe (southeastern France, Italy, Slovakia and Greece) covering all the Balkans and reaching the south of Kazakhstan and the Urals.

[3][4] [clarification needed] These rare butterflies can be found in warm, sunny and open places such as grassy herb-rich meadows, vineyards, river banks, wetlands, cultivated areas, brushy places, wasteland, rocky cliffs and karst terrains, at an elevation of from 0 to 1,700 metres above sea level but usually below 900 metres.

The females lay their eggs singly or in small groups at the bottom of the host plants.

The pupae stay linked to a support by a silk belt for wintering and the new adults hatch the next spring.

Accordingly, all of the names used for "forms" of Z. polyxena listed below must be disregarded as having no nomenclatural standing whatsoever, even though many are presented with authors and dates.