Zygaena fausta
Encyclopedia
Zygaena fausta is a member of the Zygaenidae
family, the day-flying Burnet Moths. Its bright aposematic colours
of red, white and black on the wings indicate to possible predators such as birds that it is foul-tasting or poisonous. In flight, the bright red abdomen is revealed, contrasting with the white legs and black head and antennae; the thorax is black and white with an eye-spot on each side (see image). There appears to be a considerable variation in pattern among specimens from different parts of Europe.
It is widely distributed across Europe including Spain, France, Italy, and the Balkans, and is also found in Morocco and Cyprus.
It is rare or absent from Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium, where related species include the similarly aposematic Five-spot Burnet and the Six-spot Burnet
.
The caterpillar (larva) is dark gray with a black line above a line of white interrupted by yellow bands. The caterpillar's food plants are Vetches of the genus Coronilla
.
The adults often visit a wide range of flowers including Knapweed and Eryngo. Typical habitat is dry chalk grassland. Adults fly throughout the summer from April or May until October. The sexes are similar but not identical
(see image); mating takes place by day on isolated plants.
Zygaenidae
The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. There are about 1000 species. Various species are commonly known as Burnet or Forester moths, often qualified by the number of spots,...
family, the day-flying Burnet Moths. Its bright aposematic colours
Animal colouration
Animal coloration is the general appearance of an animal resulting from the reflection or emission of light from its surfaces. The mechanisms for colour production in animals include pigments, chromatophores, structural coloration, and bioluminescence....
of red, white and black on the wings indicate to possible predators such as birds that it is foul-tasting or poisonous. In flight, the bright red abdomen is revealed, contrasting with the white legs and black head and antennae; the thorax is black and white with an eye-spot on each side (see image). There appears to be a considerable variation in pattern among specimens from different parts of Europe.
It is widely distributed across Europe including Spain, France, Italy, and the Balkans, and is also found in Morocco and Cyprus.
It is rare or absent from Britain, the Netherlands and Belgium, where related species include the similarly aposematic Five-spot Burnet and the Six-spot Burnet
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 caterpillar (larva) is dark gray with a black line above a line of white interrupted by yellow bands. The caterpillar's food plants are Vetches of the genus Coronilla
Coronilla
The genus Coronilla contains Old World shrubs and herbs.Coronilla species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including the case-bearers Coleophora coronillae and Coleophora vicinella.Species include:* Coronilla glauca* Coronilla iberica* Coronilla minima* Coronilla...
.
The adults often visit a wide range of flowers including Knapweed and Eryngo. Typical habitat is dry chalk grassland. Adults fly throughout the summer from April or May until October. The sexes are similar but not identical
Sexual dimorphism
Sexual dimorphism is a phenotypic difference between males and females of the same species. Examples of such differences include differences in morphology, ornamentation, and behavior.-Examples:-Ornamentation / coloration:...
(see image); mating takes place by day on isolated plants.