Appearance
"Zygaena purpuralis" is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan reaching 30–34 millimetres. Usually the forewings show three bright red longitudinal streaks quite variable in shape, with almost transparent greyish-bluish edges. Hind wings are more extensively or almost completely bright red. Head and thorax are black, while the abdomen is dark blue. Adults moths are on wing from late May until August, depending on location. They fly during the day, especially with warm and sunny weather, feeding on nectar of various flowers. Larva are yellow, with some lines of small black spots. The larva feed on wild thyme. They occur from August to May and overwinter once or twice.
Naming
*"Zygaena purpuralis purpuralis"⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis austronubigena" Verity 1946
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis caledonensis" Reiss, 1931
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis dojranica" Burgeff, 1926
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis fiorii" Costantini, 1916
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis isarca" Verity, 1922
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis lathyri" Boisduval, 1828
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis magnalpina" Verity, 1922
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis mirabilis" Verity, 1922
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis nubigena" Lederer, 1853
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis sabulosa" Tremewan, 1976
⤷ "Zygaena purpuralis segontii" Tremewan, 1958
Distribution
This species can be is found in most of western, central and southern Europe, from Ireland to France through to Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Russia and the Altai Mountains.
Habitat
"Zygaena purpuralis" prefers sunny and grassy slopes, undercliffs and xerophilous steppes.References:
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