Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)

Here’s a detailed overview of the Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) — one of Europe’s most striking day-flying moths:

🐞 Six-spot Burnet (Zygaena filipendulae)

🔹 Taxonomy

• Order: Lepidoptera (butterflies & moths)
• Family: Zygaenidae (Burnet moths)
• Genus: Zygaena
• Species: Z. filipendulae
• Authority: (Linnaeus, 1758)

🔹 Identification

• Wingspan: 30–40 mm
• Forewings: Glossy black or dark metallic green with six vivid red spots (sometimes fused or joined)
• Hindwings: Uniform red with a narrow black margin
• Body: Robust, hairy, black with a red collar beneath the head in worn individuals
• Flight: Slow, fluttering, but visibly day‑active (diurnal)

🔹 Distribution

• Widespread across:
  • Europe (from Ireland to Russia)
  • North Africa
  • Western Asia
• Most common in temperate lowlands, rarer at altitude or in very dry Mediterranean zones

🔹 Habitat

• Flower-rich grasslands, meadows, coastal dunes, road verges, chalk downland
• Prefers warm, sheltered spots with abundant leguminous flowers

🔹 Life Cycle

🥚 Eggs

• Laid singly or in small batches on the underside of vetches, clovers, or bird’s-foot trefoil

🐛 Larvae (Caterpillars)

• Length ~20 mm when fully grown
• Pale green or yellow‑green with a series of black dorsal spots outlined in yellow
• Feed gregariously on host‑plant foliage from late summer into autumn
• Overwinter as half‑grown larvae in silken hibernacula

🐛 Pupae (Chrysalises)

• Form in a loose cocoon among grasses in spring
• Pupation lasts ~2–3 weeks

🦋 Adults

• Emerge June–August (earlier in the south)
• Nectar‑feeders on thistles, knapweeds, buttercups, bramble, scabious, etc.

🔹 Behavior & Defense

• Aposematic coloration: Red and black warn predators of their toxicity
• Cyanogenic glycosides in their bodies can release hydrogen cyanide if attacked
• Often bask with wings held open to display warning colors

🔹 Conservation Status

• IUCN: Not assessed globally, but locally common in suitable habitat
• Threats:
  • Loss of flower‑rich meadows to intensive agriculture
  • Overgrazing or undergrazing (both reduce host‑plant abundance)
• Conservation measures:
  • Maintain and restore wildflower grasslands
  • Leave field margins uncut until after caterpillar feeding season

🔹 Similar Species

• Narrow‑bordered Five‑spot Burnet (Z. lonicerae) – five rather than six spots, smaller size
• Forester moths (Family Zygaenidae: Adscita, Jordanita spp.) – metallic green forewings, narrower bodies, with 2–3 spots or none

🔹 Fun Facts

• They’re one of the few diurnal moths you’ll see regularly in sunshine
• Spot fusion can vary: some individuals show only 4–5 distinct red spots
• First described by Linnaeus in 1758, they remain a favourite of naturalists and photographers

📸 Observation Tips

• Visit flower-rich grassland on warm, sunny days (10 am–4 pm)
• Walk slowly along meadow edges and road verges—they’re often settled on thistles or knapweeds
• Best time to find larvae is late summer to early autumn on vetches and clovers

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common tiger (Danaus genutia)

Orange Tip Butterfly (Anthocharis cardamines)

Comma butterfly (Polygonia c-album)

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Orange gull (Cepora judith)

Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Common copper (Lycaena phlaeas)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Blue glassy tiger (Ideopsis similis)

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Download full size image The Small Tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is a charming butterfly species belonging to the family Nymphalidae, known for its striking appearance and widespread distribution across Europe and parts of Asia. Here's a detailed description: Physical Characteristics: The Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is of medium size, with a wingspan typically ranging from 45 to 55 millimeters. It displays a distinctive pattern of bright orange wings bordered by a black band with white spots. The forewings also feature a row of blue crescents near the outer edge, while the hindwings have a series of blue spots and a border of black and yellow. The undersides of the wings are mottled brown, providing effective camouflage when the butterfly is at rest. Habitat and Distribution: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are commonly found in a variety of habitats, including meadows, grasslands, woodlands, gardens, and urban areas. They are distributed across much of Europe, including the British Isles, Scandinavia, and the Mediterranean region, as well as parts of Asia, such as Siberia, Central Asia, and the Middle East. They are particularly abundant in temperate regions with diverse plant species. Behavior and Life Cycle: Small Tortoiseshell butterflies are diurnal and active during the warmer months of the year, especially in spring and summer. They are strong and agile flyers, often seen fluttering among flowers in search of nectar and mates. The females lay eggs singly on the leaves of stinging nettles (Urtica spp.), which serve as the primary larval host plant. The caterpillars hatch from the eggs and feed on the leaves of the host plants before pupating and emerging as adult butterflies. Conservation Status: The Small Tortoiseshell is not considered globally threatened and is generally common and widespread throughout its range. However, like many butterfly species, it may face localized threats due to habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation caused by agricultural intensification, urbanization, and climate change. Conservation efforts focused on preserving and restoring habitats, protecting larval host plants, and minimizing human disturbance are crucial for ensuring the long-term survival of this iconic butterfly species. Overall, the Small Tortoiseshell butterfly is a beautiful and ecologically important species, valued for its striking appearance, graceful flight, and role in pollination and ecosystem functioning. Its presence adds vibrancy and vitality to natural landscapes and serves as a symbol of the rich biodiversity of the regions where it is found.

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

False heath fritillary (Melitaea diamina)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Northern chequered skipper (Carterocephalus silvicola)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Chestnut heath (Coenonympha glycerion)

Lesser marbled fritillary (Brenthis ino)

Common tiger (Danaus genutia)

European peacock (Inachis io)

Green hairstreak (Callophrys rubi)

Julia Heliconian (Dryas iulia)

Mazarine Blue (Cyaniris semiargus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

Scarce Swallowtail (Iphiclides podalirius)

Old World Swallowtail (Papilio machaon)

Common blue (Polyommatus icarus)

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