SIX-SPOT BURNET

The 'Six-spot Burnet' ''(Zygaena filipendulae)'' is a day-flying moth of the family Zygaenidae. It is a common species throughout Europe.
The sexes are similar and have a wingspan of 30-40 mm. The forewings are dark metallic green with 6 vivid red spots (sometimes the spots are merged causing possible confusion with other species such as Five-spot Burnet). Occasionally the spots are yellow or even black. The hindwings are red with a blackish fringe. The adults fly on hot, sunny days from June to August 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 and clover. The species overwinters as a larva.
The larva is plump and hairy with variable markings, usually pale green with rows of black spots. It pupates in a papery cocoon attached to foliage.
#''The flight season refers to the British Isles. This may vary in other parts of the range.''

Contents

Subspecies

References

Subspecies

★ ''Z. f. altapyrenaica''

★ ''Z. f. arctica''

★ ''Z. f. balcanirosea''

★ ''Z. f. campaniae''

★ ''Z. f. duponcheli''

★ ''Z. f. filipendulae''

★ ''Z. f. gemella''

★ ''Z. f. gemina''

★ ''Z. f. gigantea''

★ ''Z. f. himmighofeni''

★ ''Z. f. liguris''

★ ''Z. f. maior''

★ ''Z. f. mannii''

★ ''Z. f. noacki''

★ ''Z. f. oberthueriana''

★ ''Z. f. polygalae''

★ ''Z. f. praeochsenheimeri''

★ ''Z. f. pulcherrima''

★ ''Z. f. pulcherrimastoechadis''

★ ''Z. f. pyrenes''

★ ''Z. f. seeboldi''

★ ''Z. f. siciliensis''

★ ''Z. f. stephensi''

★ ''Z. f. stoechadis''

★ ''Z. f. zarana''

References

★ Chinery, Michael. ''Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe'' 1986. (reprinted 1991).

★ Skinner, Bernard.''Colour Identification Guide to Moths of the British Isles'' 1984.

★ Fauna Europaea