Zygaena erythrus

Last updated

Zygaena erythrus
Zygaenidae - Zygaena erythrus .JPG
Zygaena erythrus, dorsal view
Zygaenidae - Zygaena erythrus -001.JPG
Lateral view
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Zygaenidae
Genus: Zygaena
Species:
Z. erythrus
Binomial name
Zygaena erythrus
(Hubner, 1806)

Zygaena erythrus, common name sluggish burnet, is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae.

Contents

Mounted specimen of Zygaena erythrus Zygaena (Mesembrynus) erythrus-W-Marche, Ascoli Piceno, Monti Sibillini, Forca Canapine-E-MK-6090c.jpg
Mounted specimen of Zygaena erythrus

Subspecies

[1]

Distribution and habitat

This endangered species can be found only in France and Italy. [1] [2] It prefers dry and rocky areas with sparse vegetation and limestone substrate, but it is also present in heathlands, in nutrient-poor grasslands and in broad verges in oak forests with the host plant Eryngium species, from sea level to over 1,500 metres (4,900 ft). [1] [3]

Description

Zygaena erythrus has a wingspan of 25–33 mm. [4] These quite large moths show enlarged and confluent red spots on the forewings, surrounded by black in the distal part. Females are little bigger than males, with a yellow golden dusting and less defined markings. The mature larva is rather dark greyish, with two series of dorsal black spots. [5]

This species is very similar to Zygaena purpuralis , but it has red scales in the axillary area of the forewings, up to a third of the length. [3]

Technical description and variation (Seitz)

Z. erythrus Hbn. (= saportae Boisd.; minos Boisd.) (4a). Larger; antenna longer, with thicker club. The red colour of forewing restncted to 3 streaks , the distal one being wedge-shaped ; moreover, only the basal third of the hindmargin of forewing is red. South France, Italy and Sicily. In ab. irpina Zickert, from the Riviera, the cuneiform spots are confluent. — As magna [Seitz, [1907] ] (4 a) a very large form from the Abruzzi is sold by Staudinger; the posterior cuneiform spot is strongly widened and distally straight-truncate.— Larva dull greenish yellow, witli heavy black dots subdorsally and yellow side-spots (Sapokta); in some districts not distinguishable from the larva of purpuralis. On Eryngium and Thyme (Rouast). Hibernating; pupation at end of May. Imago in June and July; frequently sitting on Thyme and Eryngium. [6]

Biology

The life cycle involves only one generation per year. [5] Adults are on wing from the end of June to the beginning or mid August. [7] The hatching occurs between June and July. [5] The larvae feed on Eryngium species, [8] including Eryngium campestre [1] and Eryngium maritimum . [9] Full-grown larvae can be found from June. Pupation occurs within a cocoon usually adherent to the lower surface of the leaves, [5] but also on the ground between lichens, moss and parts of plants. [7]

Related Research Articles

<i>Zygaena transalpina</i> Species of moth

Zygaena transalpina is a moth of the family Zygaenidae.

<i>Zygaena</i> Genus of moths

Zygaena is a genus of moths in the family Zygaenidae. These brightly coloured, day-flying moths are native to the West Palearctic.

<i>Zygaena carniolica</i> Species of moth

Zygaena carniolica, sometimes described as the crepuscular burnet or eastern burnet, is a member of the family Zygaenidae.

<i>Zygaena ephialtes</i> Species of moth

Zygaena ephialtes is day-flying species of burnet moth found in Europe. It is typically found in xeric habitats, and populations have recently decreased. It also exhibits Müllerian mimicry with other species, like Amata phegea.

<i>Zygaena laeta</i> Species of moth

Zygaena laeta, the bloodword burnet, is a moth of the family Zygaenidae. It is found in Central and South-Eastern Europe.In Z. laeta the collar and patagia as well as the apical half of the abdomen are red: also the wings are testaceous red except some black spots on the forewing. Larva of light bluish green, with while dorsal and lateral lines, along which there are blackdots. Pupa yellow, anteriorly dark brown, in a whitish cocoon. The wingspan is 26–34 mm.

<i>Zygaena fraxini</i> Species of moth

Zygaena fraxini is a moth of the family Zygaenidae.It is a Palearctic confined to Western Asia.

<i>Zygaena purpuralis</i> Species of moth

Zygaena purpuralis, the transparent burnet, is a moth of the family Zygaenidae.

<i>Zygaena sarpedon</i> Species of moth

Zygaena sarpedon is a moth of the Zygaenidae family. It is found in France, Italy and on the Iberian Peninsula.

<i>Zygaena hilaris</i> Species of moth

Zygaena hilaris is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae.

<i>Zygaena brizae</i> Species of moth

Zygaena brizae is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in France, Italy, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, the Balkan Peninsula, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and Georgia.

<i>Zygaena cynarae</i> Species of moth

Zygaena cynarae is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found from France east to Russia.

<i>Zygaena punctum</i> Species of moth

Zygaena punctum is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae. It is found in Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, the Balkan Peninsula, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and Turkey.

<i>Zygaena rubicundus</i> Species of moth

Zygaena rubicundus, common name fulvous burnet,. is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae.

<i>Zygaena anthyllidis</i> Species of moth

Zygaena anthyllidis is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in France and Spain.

<i>Zygaena rhadamanthus</i> Species of moth

Zygaena rhadamanthus is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.

<i>Zygaena olivieri</i> Species of moth

Zygaena olivieri is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in Syria, Armenia and Georgia. Seitz describes it -In olivieri Boisd. (7h) not only the collar and 2—8 abdominal segments are red but also the patagia, the red spots of the forewing being very large; from Syria and Armenia.In subspecies Z. o. laetifica Herrich-Schäffer, 1846 the pairs of spots on forewing are separate. — In Z. o. ganimedes Freyer, [1851] from Amasia, the penultimate pair of spots and the apical patch are rather broadly connected and the red markings of the forewing have a white edge of about 1 mm width.

<i>Zygaena tamara</i> Species of moth

Zygaena tamara is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in Zangazur və Daralayaz.

<i>Zygaena felix</i> Species of moth

Zygaena felix is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in south Spain and the Atlas mountains. In Seitz it is described. — In felix Oberth., from Algiers and South-West Spain, the black spots are more or less confluent, the red ground-colour along the distal margin being sometimes separated as a sock-like halfmoon. The white edges are usually altogether absent, or there are only feeble vestiges of them — In ab. faustula Stgr.-Reb.[ now Z. felix ssp. constantinensis Reiss & Tremewan, 1964] on the contrary the black spots are distinctly edged with yellowish white. — Lastly, ab.mauretanica Stgr. [now Z. felix ssp. constantinensis Reiss & Tremewan, 1964] (8a) has a red belt. — The 3 forms tly exactly at the same time and the same places; I found them frequently united in copula. They are extremely common throughout June on nearly all the heights of the Atlas Mts., sometimes the one sometimes the other form being prevalent in the various flight-places.

Zygaena escalerai is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in Iran. In Seitz it is described - Z. escalerai Pouj. has orange spots on forewing, the external pairs being confluent; spot 6 is elongate and transverse. The hindwing is orange, with a vermilion tint, the disc being hyaline and the apex black, there being a black dot situated at centre of distal margin. The species has been discovered in Persia, the type contained in the Paris Museum being caught by Escalera [Manuel Martínez de la Escalera] in July. According to the description this form is allied to the fraxini-truchmena group.

<i>Zygaena ecki</i> Species of moth

Zygaena ecki is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found in Iran. In Seitz it is described - Z. ecki Christ. (6c). Little is known of this rather isolated Burnet, which does not stand in close relationship to any other, not being allied to ephialtes or exulans, nor to anthyllidis, behind which it is placed in the catalogue of Staudinger-Rebel. The dull dark grey forewing bears 6 pinkish crimson spots of which the 2 distal ones are slightly confluent; hindwing of the same tint, with rather broad black margin and reddish grey fringes. The abdomen is usually black, but occurs also with red belt, = cingulata Hirschke. Persia.

References