Zygaena trifolii (Esper, 1783) Species
Last modified: May 16, 2024, 11:41 a.m.
A fairly common species throughout Belgium.
This species is considered Least Concern according to the IUCN Red List category for Flanders 2023.
Details
- Classification
- Family: Zygaenidae > Subfamily: Zygaeninae > Genus: Zygaena > Subgenus: Zygaena > Species: Zygaena trifolii
- Vernacular names
- Vijfvlek-sint-jansvlinder (NL), Five-spot Burnet (EN), Zygène du trèfle (FR), Sumpfhornklee-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] Trifolii). view page
- Status
-
Native
Distribution
Imago
Wingspan 28–33 mm. Forewing with five red spots, of which spot 3 and 4 are often connected.
Museum specimens
Specimens in nature
Caterpillar
Larvae are fully-grown in June.
Bionomics
The larve lives free on the leaves on the food plant and hibernates as larva once or twice and pupates in a cocoon low in the vegetation. The adults are active during the day.
Flight periods
The adults fly from late May towards August, occasionally there is a partial second generation till early October when weather conditions are good.
Observed on
- Host plant (species):
- Lotus corniculatus and Lotus pedunculatus
- Host plant (genera):
- Dorycnium
The larva lives on different species of Lotus, mainly on L. pedunculatus and L. corniculatus.
In Europe, the species is largely focused on Lotus pedunculatus.
Habitat
It inhabits wet meadows, fens, ditch verges, damp areas and dry grasslands.
