Seq # 410110230

Zygaena lonicerae (Scheven, 1777) Species

Last modified: Nov. 4, 2023, 4:55 p.m.


A very rare and local species in the southern part of Belgium.


Details

Classification
Family: Zygaenidae > Subfamily: Zygaeninae > Genus: Zygaena > Subgenus: Zygaena > Species: Zygaena lonicerae
Vernacular names
Valse vijfvlek-sint-jansvlinder (NL), Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet (EN), La Zygaena lonicerae, Zygène du chèvrefeuille, La Zygène des bois (FR), Hornklee Widderchen (DE)
First mention in Belgium
De Sélys-Longchamps E. 1837. Catalogue des Lépidoptères ou Papillons de la Belgique, précédé du tableau des Libellulines de ce pays. — — : 1–29. On page 23 (as Zygoena [sic] Lonicerae). view page
Status

Native


Distribution


Imago

Wingspan 30–46 mm. The forewings usually show five crimson to vermilion spots and a black basic colour, with a strong bluish or blue-green reflection. The third spot is smaller than the fourth one and rarely emerged. Head, thorax and abdomen are black and moderately to strongly hairy. The antennae are long and slender and slightly clavate (club shaped) and tapered.
The apex of forewing more pointed and black terminal band on hindwing narrower.
The moth is very similar to Zygaena trifolii and is therefore often confused. Determination by genitalia examination required.

Museum specimens


Specimens in nature

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Genitalia


Egg

The eggs are pale yellow.

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Caterpillar

Lenght 19–28 mm. The larvae are bluish green or pale yellow, with long pale hairs (setae) and a few rows of almost rectangular black spots.

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Cocoon/pupa

The colour of the pupa varies from brown to black. Cocoon detached on the stems of grasses.

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Bionomics

The larvae 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.
They are active during the day and visiting different flowers like Scabiosa, Knautia, Cirsium and Centaurea.

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Flight periods

The adults fly from end of June towards August in one generation.


Observed on

Host plant (species):
Trifolium pratense, Trifolium repens, Trifolium montanum, Lathyrus pratensis, Lathyrus montanus, Onobrychis viciifolia, Lotus corniculatus, Lotus uliginosus and Vicia sylvatica
Host plant (genera):
Trifolium and Lathyrus

The larva lives on different species of Trifolium and Lathyrus.

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Habitat

It prefers dry to mesophilic habitats, open forests, calcareous grassland and chalk downland.

No pictures yet!