Zygaena hilaris
| Zygaena hilaris | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Zygaena hilaris | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Family: | Zygaenidae |
| Genus: | Zygaena |
| Species: | Z. hilaris |
| Binomial name | |
| Zygaena hilaris Ochsenheimer, 1808 | |
| Synonyms | |
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Zygaena hilaris is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae.
Subspecies
Subspecies include: [1][2]
- Zygaena hilaris hilaris
- Zygaena hilaris chrysophaea Le Charles, 1934
- Zygaena hilaris escorialensis Oberthur, 1884
- Zygaena hilaris galliae Oberthur, 1910
- Zygaena hilaris leonica Tremewan, 1961
- Zygaena hilaris lucifera Reiss, 1936
- Zygaena hilaris ononidis Milliere, 1878
- Zygaena hilaris piemontica Reiss, 1941
The subspecies Zygaena hilaris chrysophaea is present in France from Vaucluse, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, Drôme and Hautes-Alpes to Isère.
Distribution and habitat
This species can be found in France, Spain, Portugal and Italy.[3][4][5] These moths inhabit dry meadow, edges of calcareous grasslands, dry shrub, sunny slopes and clearings in dry forests, from sea level to 2000 meters. [5][6][7]
Description
Zygaena hilaris has a wingspan of 24–25 millimetres (0.94–0.98 in).[1] These moths are polymorphous. Forewings show a black background, with five large red stains usually joined together and often surrounded by ocher-orange rings. Hindwings are entirely red with a thin black line at the outer edge. The body is black except for an ocher slightly marked prothoracic necklace.[7] The caterpillars are hairy, greenish- yellow with rows of small black spots. [7] This species is rather similar to Zygaena fausta, which has an abdominal ring. [7]
Biology
These moths have two generations (bivoltine) from May to July and from August to September. [7] Adults fly from late June to July. [6][8] The larvae feed on Dorycnium species and on various Ononis species (Ononis repens, Ononis natrix, Ononis pinnata, Ononis minutissima, Ononis aragonensis, Ononis diffusa, Ononis procrens, Ononis speciosa, Ononis spinosa, Ononis arvensis). [6][7][9]