Six-spot burnet

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Six-spot burnet moth
Zygaena filipendulae (top view) - Kulna.jpg
Adult of Zygaena filipendulae
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Zygaenidae
Genus: Zygaena
Species:
Z. filipendulae
Binomial name
Zygaena filipendulae
Synonyms
  • Sphinx filipendulaeLinnaeus, 1758
  • Sphinx maiorEsper, 1794
  • Sphinx polygalaeEsper, 1783
  • Sphinx stoechadisBorkhausen, 1793
Top view Six-spot Burnet.tif
Top view

The six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) is a day-flying moth of the family Zygaenidae.

Contents

Subspecies

Side view Zygaena filipendulae (side view) - Kulna.jpg
Side view
Mating Red spotted moths 1 (3745889925).jpg
Mating
Zygaena filipendulae
2016 Belarus stamp featuring Zygaena filipendulae Stamp of Belarus - 2016 - Colnect 651857 - Butterflies (cropped).jpeg
2016 Belarus stamp featuring Zygaena filipendulae

Distribution

Zygaena filipendulae is a common species throughout Europe, except the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, northern Scandinavia and the Great Russian North. It is also present in Asia, from Anatolia through the Caucasus to Syria and Lebanon. [1]

Habitat

This species can be found in meadows, woodland clearings, sea-cliffs and areas rich in grasses and flowers, up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in altitude. [2]

Description

Zygaena filipendulae has a wingspan of 30–40 mm (1.2–1.6 in). The sexes are similar. The fore wings are dark metallic green with six vivid red spots (sometimes the spots are merged causing possible confusion with other species such as the five-spot burnet. Occasionally, the spots are yellow or even black. The hind wings are red with a blackish fringe. The larva is plump and hairy with variable markings, usually pale green with rows of black spots. [3]


It is an aposematic moth, being distinguished by its colors as toxic to predators like birds and lizards. If attacked it emits a liquid containing cyanide, which is present in all stages of the life cycle. [3]

Biology

The adults fly on hot, sunny days from June to August, [Note 1] and are attracted to a wide variety of flowers such as knapweed and scabious, as well as the larval food plants bird's foot trefoil, Coronilla and clover. [4] [3]

The species overwinters as a larva. The larva pupates in early summer in a papery cocoon attached to a grass stem. [5]

Lifecycle

Bibliography

Notes

  1. The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.

References