Six-spot Burnet
Zygaena filipendulae
This record describes Zygaena filipendulae (species). Recorded family: Zygaenidae. Recorded order: Lepidoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Wingspan 30-38 mm. The only British Burnet with six red spots on forewing (red patch at base is divided by a vein and counts as two spots). Occupying meadows, woodland clearings and sea-cliffs. The larvae feed mainly on Bird's-foot Trefoil. This is the commonest of Britain's day-flying Burnet moths, and is found throughout Britain, with a coastal bias in the north. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
Wikipedia reference for Zygaena filipendulae: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zygaena filipendulae.
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
Occupying meadows, woodland clearings and sea-cliffs.
Seasonal Activity
It flies from June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
The larvae feed mainly on Bird's-foot Trefoil.
Additional species information
Recorded status
This is the commonest of Britain's day-flying Burnet moths, and is found throughout Britain, with a coastal bias in the north. In a recent survey to determine the status of all macro moths in Britain this species was classified as common.
About Butterflies and Moths: the wider group
Order-level background for Lepidoptera, the group containing Zygaena filipendulae. 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 Six-spot Burnet (10)
Frequently Asked Questions About Six-spot Burnet
What is Six-spot Burnet?
Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) is a species in the family Zygaenidae, within the order Lepidoptera.
Where is Six-spot Burnet found?
Habitat: Occupying meadows, woodland clearings and sea-cliffs.
When is Six-spot Burnet active?
Six-spot Burnet: seasonal activity - It flies from June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Six-spot Burnet?
The larvae feed mainly on Bird's-foot Trefoil.