Zygaena rubicundus

Zygaena rubicundus
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Zygaenidae
Genus: Zygaena
Species:
Z. rubicundus
Binomial name
Zygaena rubicundus
(Hubner, 1817)
Synonyms
  • Sphinx rubicundus Hubner, 1817
  • Zygaena pallescens Stauder 1915
  • Zygaena polygalaeformis Verity 1916
  • Zygaena pseudofaitensis Stauder 1929

Zygaena rubicundus, common name fulvous burnet,. is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae.

Etymology

The Latin species name “rubicundus” means "high fiery red".[1]

Distribution and habitat

This species is endemic to the mainland of Italy.[2][3] These moths prefer limestone grasslands, mountain slopes and open scrub with the host plant.[4]

Description

Zygaena rubicundus
Mounted specimen

Zygaena rubicundus can reach a wingspan of 27–35 mm (1.1–1.4 in).[1] Seitz, A. describes Zygaena rubicundus as follows:- All the wings red, also the hindmargin, only the apex and distal margin of forewing bearing a black edge, which is a little more than 1 mm wide. In Central and South Italy. Very local.[5]

This species is closely related to Zygaena contaminei.[4]

Biology

These rather small diurnal moths develop a complete metamorphosis which involves a pupal stage (holometabolous). Adults are on the wing between June and August.[4][6] They visit flowers of Centranthus (Valerians).[7] The larvae feed mainly on Eryngium campestre and Eryngium amethystinum.[8][4][1]

Bibliography

  • Hofmann, A.F. & W.G. Tremewan (2017): The Natural History of Burnet Moths (Zygaena Fabricius, 1775) (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae). Part 1. – 630 S.; Munich – Vilnius (Proceedings of the Museum Witt).
  • Erstbeschreibung: Hübner, J. [1793-1832]: Sammlung europäischer Schmetterlinge 2: pl. 1-38.

References

Wikispecies has information related to Zygaena rubicundus.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Zygaena rubicundus.
  1. ^ a b c Lepiforum.org
  2. ^ Fauna Europaea
  3. ^ GBIF
  4. ^ a b c d Pyrgus.de
  5. ^ Seitz, A., 1913, in Seitz, Gross-Schmett. Erde 6: 22., The Macrolepidoptera of the Palearctic Fauna 2. Volume: The Palearctic Bombyces & Sphinges. pdf Public Domain This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ iNaturalist
  7. ^ EoL
  8. ^ Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa