Narrow-Bordered Five-Spot Burnet

Appearance

''Zygaena lonicerae'' have a wingspan of 30–46 millimetres . The forewings reach a length of 16–19 millimetres in the females, while they are slightly smaller in males. The forewings usually show five crimson to vermilion spots and a black basic color, with a strong bluish or blue-green reflection. The third spot is smaller than the fourth one. Head, thorax and abdomen are black and moderately to strongly hairy. The antennae are long and slender and slightly clavate and tapered. The females are similar to males, but the top of the front wing is slightly rounded and the abdomen and the thorax are less hairy. However this species is very variable. Usually the moth populations in Alpine areas are much larger, while those from southern Europe are darker.

Naming

*''Zygaena lonicerae lonicerae''
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae abbastumana'' Reiss, 1922
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae alpiumgigas'' Verity, 1925
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae insularis'' Tremewan, 1960
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae intermixta'' Verity, 1925
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae jocelynae'' Tremewan, 1962
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae kalkanensis'' Reiss, 1932
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae latomarginata''
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae leonensis Tremewan, 1961
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae linnei'' Reiss, 1922
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae microdoxa'' Dujardin, 1965
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae nobilis'' Navàs, 1924
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae silana'' Burgeff, 1914
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae thurneri'' Holik, 1943
⤷ ''Zygaena lonicerae vivax'' Verity, 1920

Distribution

This species can be found in most of Europe, from Ireland to Fennoscandia, up to west of China. In the southern Europe the species is widesperead from northern and central Spain to Turkey and the Caucasus.

Behavior

The moth flies during daytime from June to early August depending on the location. They suck nectar of the preferred blue violet flowers, such as on field scabious , Dove Pincushion Flower , meadow knapweed , panicle knapweed , creeping thistle , Bulbous thistle and ring thistle .

The females lay eggs in July on the underside of leaves of the host plants or on plants that grow close to them. The eggs are pale yellow. The caterpillars reach a length of 19 to 28 millimeters. They are bluish green or pale yellow, with long pale hairs and a few rows of almost rectangular black spots.

The larva feed on various low-growing plants, including ''Trifolium'' and ''Lathyrus'' species , as well as ''Vicia'', ''Lotus corniculatus'', ''Lotus uliginosus'', ''Onobrychis viciifolia''. Larvae and pupae are occasionally parasitized by ''Tachinidae'' species and by some species of wasps.

The larva eat until late summer and early winter, and continue to develop in the following year. At the end of May the caterpillars are fully grown. The not fully grown caterpillars overwinter a second time. The caterpillars pupate in an elongated or spindle-shaped yellowish or white cocoon on grasses and other plants. The color of pupa varies from brown to black.

Habitat

In Western Europe it prefers dry to mesophilic habitats in coastal areas, sea-cliffs, open forests, grassland, chalk downland and subalpine valleys, at an elevation up to 2,000 metres above sea level.