The six-spot burnet ( Zygaena filipendulae) is a day-flying moth of the family Zygaenidae.
Subspecies
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Z. f. altapyrenaica Le Charles, 1950
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Z. f. arctica Schneider, 1880
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Z. f. balcanirosea Holik, 1943
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Z. f. campaniae Rebel, 1901
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Z. f. duponcheli Verity, 1921
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Z. f. filipendulae
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Z. f. gemella Marten, 1956
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Z. f. gemina Burgeff, 1914
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Z. f. gigantea Rocci, 1913
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Z. f. himmighofeni Burgeff, 1926
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Z. f. liguris Rocci, 1925
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Z. f. maior Esper, 1794
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Z. f. mannii Herrich-Schaffer, 1852
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Z. f. noacki Reiss, 1962
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Z. f. oberthueriana Burgeff, 1926
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Z. f. polygalae (Esper, 1783)
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Z. f. praeochsenheimeri Verity, 1939
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Z. f. pulcherrima Verity, 1921
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Z. f. pulcherrimastoechadis Verity, 1921
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Z. f. pyrenes Verity, 1921
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Z. f. seeboldi Oberthur, 1910
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Z. f. siciliensis Verity, 1917
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Z. f. stephensi Dupont, 1900
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Z. f. stoechadis (Borkhausen, 1793)
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Z. f. zarana Burgeff, 1926
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.
[ Fauna Europaea]
Habitat
This species can be found in meadows, woodland clearings, sea-cliffs and area rich in grasses and flowers, up to 2,000 m altitude.
[ UK Moths]
Description
Zygaena filipendulae has a
wingspan of . 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 Aposematism 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, and are attracted to a wide variety of
such as
Centaurea and
Scabiosa, as well as the
food plants bird's foot trefoil,
Coronilla and
clover.
[Paolo Mazzei, Daniel Morel, Raniero Panfili Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa]
The species overwinters as a larva. The larva in early summer in a papery cocoon attached to a grass stem.[ First Nature]
Lifecycle
File: Zygaena filipendulae 02 (HS).jpg|Eggs
File: Zygaena filipendulae caterpillar.jpg|Caterpillar
File:Zygaena filipendulae - Puppe 03 (HS).JPG|Cocoon
File: Zygaenidae - Zygaena filipendulae (Pupa).JPG|Pupa (cocoon removed)
File: Six-spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena filipendulae) - geograph.org.uk - 928302.jpg|Adult
Bibliography
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C. M. Naumann, G. M. Tarmann, W. G. Tremewan: The Western Palaearctic Zygaenidae. Apollo Books, Stenstrup, 1999,
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Capinera, J. L. (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Entomology, 4 voll., 2nd Ed., Dordrecht, Springer Science+Business Media B.V., 2008, pp. lxiii + 4346,
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Chinery, Michael. Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe 1986. (reprinted 1991).
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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,
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Scoble, M. J., The Lepidoptera: Form, Function and Diversity, seconda edizione, London, Oxford University Press & Natural History Museum, 2011 1992, pp. xi, 404,
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Skinner, Bernard. Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles 1984.
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Stehr, F. W. (Ed.), Immature Insects, 2 volumi, seconda edizione, Dubuque, Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co., 1991 1987, pp. ix, 754,
Notes
External links
