Six-spot burnet

Six-spot burnet
Adult of Zygaena filipendulae
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Zygaenidae
Genus:	Zygaena
Species:	Z. filipendulae
Binomial name
Zygaena filipendulae (Linnaeus, 1758)
Synonyms
Sphinx filipendulae Linnaeus, 1758 Sphinx maior Esper, 1794 Sphinx polygalae Esper, 1783 Sphinx stoechadis Borkhausen, 1793

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

Subspecies

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 Minor, through the Caucasus to Syria and Lebanon.^[1]

Habitat

This species can be found in meadows, woodland clearings, sea-cliffs and area rich in grasses and flowers, up to 2000 m 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.

It is an aposematic moth because it is distinguished by its colors as toxic to predators like birds and lizards. If attacked it emits a liquid containing cyanide.

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, Dorycnium, Coronilla and clover. ^[3]

The species overwinters as a larva. The larva pupates in early summer in a papery cocoon attached to a grass stem. ^[4]

Lifecycle

• 
  Mating
• 
  Eggs
• 
  Caterpillar
• 
  Cocoon
• 
  Pupa (cocoon removed)
• 
  Adult

Bibliography

• C. M. Naumann, G. M. Tarmann, W. G. Tremewan: The Western Palaearctic Zygaenidae. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 1999, ISBN 87-88757-15-3
• Capinera, J. L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Entomology, 4 voll., 2nd Ed., Dordrecht, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., 2008, pp. lxiii + 4346, ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1
• Chinery, Michael. Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986. (reprinted 1991).
• Kükenthal, W. (Ed.), Handbuch der Zoologie / Handbook of Zoology, Band 4: Arthropoda - 2. Hälfte: Insecta - Lepidoptera, moths and butterflies, in Kristensen, N. P. , Handbuch der Zoologie, Fischer, M. (Scientific Editor), Teilband/Part 35: Vol. 1: Evolution, systematics, and biogeography, Berlino, New York, Walter de Gruyter, 1999 [1998], pp. x + 491, ISBN 978-3-11-015704-8
• Scoble, M. J., The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity, seconda edizione, London, Oxford University Press & Natural History Museum, 2011 [1992], pp. xi, 404, ISBN 978-0-19-854952-9
• Skinner, Bernard.Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984.
• Stehr, F. W. (Ed.), Immature Insects, 2 volumi, seconda edizione, Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1991 [1987], pp. ix, 754, ISBN 978-0-8403-3702-3

Notes

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zygaena filipendulae.

Wikispecies has information related to: Zygaena filipendulae

External links

• Funet Taxonomy
• Lepiforum.de
• Lepinet.fr