Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth
Zygaena lonicerae
This record describes Zygaena lonicerae (species). Recorded family: Zygaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-46 mm. A variable species with a number of subspecies and forms occurring in Britain. It occupies grassland, chalk downland and sea-cliffs The adults fly in the daytime visiting various flowers and are on the wing in June and July. The larval foodplants are such low plants as Clover and Vetch. The subspecies latomarginata is the most widespread, occurring in much of England except the south-west, and south Wales. The subspecies jocelynae is found locally on the Isle of Skye, the only Scottish location, and ssp. insularis occurs in Ireland. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths this species was classified as common.In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Zygaena lonicerae: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygaena lonicerae.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Lepidoptera (Butterflies and Moths)
- Superfamily
- Zygaenoidea
- Family
- Zygaenidae (Burnet Moths)
- Subfamily
- Zygaeninae
- Genus
- Zygaena
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
It occupies grassland, chalk downland and sea-cliffs
Seasonal Activity
The adults fly in the daytime visiting various flowers and are on the wing in June and July.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larval foodplants are such low plants as Clover and Vetch.
Additional species information
Recorded status
The subspecies
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zygaena lonicerae. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Lepidoptera includes approximately 180,000 described species of butterflies and moths. Moths outnumber butterflies roughly 10:1. The monarch butterfly's eastern population has declined by more than 80% since the mid-1990s, and the western population by over 95% since the 1980s. The IUCN lists the migratory monarch as Vulnerable.
Ecological role of the group
Butterflies and moths are essential indicators of ecosystem health. As caterpillars, they are a primary food source for birds - a single nest of blue tit chicks requires ~10,000 caterpillars. Adult moths pollinate many night-blooming plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Lepidoptera are critical pollinators. In Europe, grassland butterfly species have declined by almost 50% since the early 1990s. In the UK, three-quarters of butterflies are in decline. In the U.S., five butterfly species have gone extinct since 1950, with 29 listed as endangered.
Recorded sources for this group: IUCN Red List, Xerces Society, USFWS, PNAS, WWF. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth
What is Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth?
Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth (Zygaena lonicerae) is a species in the family Zygaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth found?
Habitat: It occupies grassland, chalk downland and sea-cliffs
When is Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth active?
Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth: seasonal activity - The adults fly in the daytime visiting various flowers and are on the wing in June and July..
What is the life cycle of a Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth?
The larval foodplants are such low plants as Clover and Vetch.