Zygaena lavandulae

Zygaena lavandulae
Zygaena lavandulae, upperside
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Zygaenidae
Genus: Zygaena
Species: Z. lavandulae
Binomial name
Zygaena lavandulae
(Esper, 1783)
Synonyms
  • Sphinx lavandulae Esper, 1783
  • Sphinx spicae Hübner, 1796
  • Zygaena consobrina German, [1835]
  • Zygaena altalavandulae Reiss, 1953
  • Zygaena izilanica Reiss, 1944
  • Zygaena teruelensis Reiss, 1936
  • Zygaena oropesica Reiss, 1965

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

Subspecies

Subspecies include: [1][2]

Distribution

Lateral view

This species can be found in Southern France, eastern Spain, Portugal and Italy (only in central and western Liguria),[3] as well as North Africa, including Morocco.[4][5]

Description

Zygaena lavandulae has a wingspan of 31–36 millimetres (1.2–1.4 in) in males and of 35–37 millimetres (1.4–1.5 in) in females. The head is black. The thorax is black with a white collar. Also the abdonen is black, with a slight blue gloss. Forewings are bluish, with five red spots surrounded with black or dark blue. Hindwings are bluish-black with a very large distal red spot. Colorations of the females are rather similar to males, but their forewings are usually bluish-green, with larger spots. [6]

Habitat

These moths mainly inhabit rocky places, dry woods and grove rich grasslands.[5] They are present in the Maquis shrubland, characterized by the widespread presence of Cistus species.

Biology

There is one generation per year (univoltine). The larvae feed on Dorycnium pentaphyllum[5] and Anthyllis cytisoides.[7][8] They develop until April without real dormancy.[5] Adults are on wing from April to June.[5]

References


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