Zygaena loti (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775) Species
Last modified: Nov. 22, 2023, 4:24 p.m.
A rare species in the southern part of Belgium. Not often recorded.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Zygaenidae > Subfamily: Zygaeninae > Genus: Zygaena > Subgenus: Zygaena > Species: Zygaena loti
- Vernacular names
- Dubbelvlek-sint-jansvlinder (NL), Slender Scotch Burnet (EN), Zygène de la millefeuille, Zygène du Lotier (FR), Beilfleck-Widderchen (DE)
- Synonyms
- Zygaena achilleae (Esper, 1780)
- First mention in Belgium
- Lambillion L.-J. 1900–1913. Catalogue des Lépidoptères de Belgique. — Revue mensuelle de la Société entomologique namuroise Supplément: 1–464. On page 376.
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 25–35 mm. Spot 1 elongated, spots 2 and 4 can be connected by a thin red line, sometimes spot 3 may be divided by vein along costal border of discal cell and spots 5+6 merged into an axe-shaped spot. Forewing thinly scaled, legs partly yellow, light collar on its thorax, black margin of the hindwings fine and regular.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Bionomics
The caterpillars moult out of hibernation dormancy in late February or early March and are mature in May and early June. They generally hide well concealed in the moss layer at daytime, where they also construct their cocoons. Hibernates as larva once or twice.
The adults are active during the day.
Flight periods
The adults fly from early June towards early August.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Coronilla varia and Lotus corniculatus
- Host plant (genera):
- Onobrychis and Hippocrepis
The larva lives on Coronilla, Hippocrepis or Lotus.
Habitat
It prefers limestone grasslands.
