''Zygaena purpuralis'', the transparent burnet, is a

moth Moths are a paraphyletic group of insects that includes all members of the order Lepidoptera that are not butterflies, with moths making up the vast majority of the order. There are thought to be approximately 160,000 species of moth, many of w ...

of the family

Zygaenidae The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera. The majority of zygaenids are tropical, but they are nevertheless quite well represented in temperate regions. Some of the 1000 or so species are commonly known as burnet or forester moths, oft ...

Description

''Zygaena purpuralis'' is a medium-sized moth with a

wingspan The wingspan (or just span) of a bird or an airplane is the distance from one wingtip to the other wingtip. For example, the Boeing 777–200 has a wingspan of , and a wandering albatross (''Diomedea exulans'') caught in 1965 had a wingspan o ...

reaching . Usually the forewings show three bright red longitudinal streaks quite variable in shape, with almost transparent greyish-bluish edges. Hindwings are more extensively or almost completely bright red. Head and thorax are black, while the abdomen is dark blue. Larvae are yellow, with some lines of small black spots.

Technical description and variation (Seitz)

''Z. purpuralis'' Brunnich (= ''pilosellae'' Esp.; ''minos'' Fuessl.). In this species the hindmargin of the forewing (base included) is all black, while the red wedge-spots situated before it may be shaped entirely as in '' erythrus'' Hbn. An aberration with light yellow instead of red markings, already recorded by Ochsenheimer, has more lately been named by Ruhl ab. ''grossmanni'' (= ''lutescens'' Tutt). It is said to have been observed as a constant or at least prevalent form in certain very limited localities. In ab. ''obscura'' Tutt the entire wings, inclusive of the red colour, is darkened. — ''sareptensis'' Stgr.-Reb. now_''Zygaena_minos''_ssp._''sareptensis''_Rebel,_1901_.html" ;"title="Zygaena_minos.html" ;"title="now ''Zygaena minos">now ''Zygaena minos'' ssp. ''sareptensis'' Rebel, 1901 ">Zygaena_minos.html" ;"title="now ''Zygaena minos">now ''Zygaena minos'' ssp. ''sareptensis'' Rebel, 1901 is a large, somewhat paler, lighter red form from South Russia. — ''diaphana'' Stgr.[now ''Zygaena minos'' ssp. ''diaphana'' Staudinger, 1887 ] , from Tauria, has thinly scaled, strongly transparent wings, the central wedge-spot being distally strongly widened. — ''nubigena'' Led. [ subspecies ] is also a very thinly scaled form from the high mountains of Europe and Asia, having moreover (like many mountain-forms) a very shaggy body, like '' Zygaena exulans'', with which it occurs occasionally together. — In the rather large form ''smirnovi'' Christ. now_''Zygaena_minos''_ssp._''smirnovi''_Christoph,_1884_.html" ;"title="Zygaena_minos.html" ;"title="now ''Zygaena minos">now ''Zygaena minos'' ssp. ''smirnovi'' Christoph, 1884 ">Zygaena_minos.html" ;"title="now ''Zygaena minos">now ''Zygaena minos'' ssp. ''smirnovi'' Christoph, 1884 from Turkestan, the distal wedge-spot is constricted before its dilated apex. — ''pluto'' O. (= ''pythia'' Hbn.) [synonym of ''Z.purpuralis''] has a black apex to the hindwing and the central streak of forewing is entirely of even width, not in the least being dilated distally; in South Europe, as far north as Austria. — In ''polygalae'' Esp. ow_''Zygaena_filipendulae''_ssp._''polygalae''_Esper,_1783_.html" ;"title="Zygaena_filipendulae.html" ;"title="ow ''Zygaena filipendulae">ow ''Zygaena filipendulae'' ssp. ''polygalae'' Esper, 1783 ">Zygaena_filipendulae.html" ;"title="ow ''Zygaena filipendulae">ow ''Zygaena filipendulae'' ssp. ''polygalae'' Esper, 1783 the black interspaces between the red streaks have entirely disappeared the red being so extended (especially in females) that the forewing is only edged with black, differing from ''Zygaena rubicundus'' in the hindmargin of forewing being black (though sometimes only narrowly); in the South, especially Northern Italy. — In ''heringi'' Zell.[ synonym of ''purpuralis'' ], from North Germany, the antenna is thinner and the central wedge-spot of the somewhat broader forewing extends to near the distal edge. — In ab. ''interrupta'' Stgr. ynonym_for_''Zygaena__minos''_ssp._''pimpinellae''_.html" ;"title="Zygaena__minos.html" ;"title="ynonym for '' ynonym_for_''Zygaena__minos''_ssp._''pimpinellae''_">Zygaena__minos.html"_;"title="ynonym_for_''Zygaena__minos">ynonym_for_''Zygaena__minos''_ssp._''pimpinellae''__the_central_streak_is_broadly_interrupted_and_the_posterior_one_often_constricted_in_middle;_more_in_the_North_of_the_area,_among_the_name-typical_form._—_If_all_three_streaks_are_interrupted,_the_red_is_separated_into_6_spots,_recalling_the_pattern_of_other_Zygaenas;_this_form_is_ab._''sexmaculata''_Burgeff._—_Finally,_there_occur_also_specimens_which_have_a_red_abdominal_belt:_ab._''cingulata''_Burgeff_—_Larva_bluish_white_or_light_yellow;_a_subdorsal_row_of_heavy_black_dots;_head,_pectoral_legs_and_stigmata_black.___Adalbert_Seitz.html" ;"title="Zygaena minos">ynonym for ''Zygaena minos'' ssp. ''pimpinellae'' ">Zygaena__minos.html" ;"title="ynonym for ''Zygaena minos">ynonym for ''Zygaena minos'' ssp. ''pimpinellae'' the central streak is broadly interrupted and the posterior one often constricted in middle; more in the North of the area, among the name-typical form. — If all three streaks are interrupted, the red is separated into 6 spots, recalling the pattern of other Zygaenas; this form is ab. ''sexmaculata'' Burgeff. — Finally, there occur also specimens which have a red abdominal belt: ab. ''cingulata'' Burgeff — Larva bluish white or light yellow; a subdorsal row of heavy black dots; head, pectoral legs and stigmata black. Adalbert Seitz">Seitz, A., 1913, in Seitz, Gross-Schmett. Erde 6: 22.,The Macrolepidoptera of the Palearctic Fauna 2. Volume: The Palearctic Bombyces & Sphinges
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Biology

Adult moths are on wing from late May until August, depending on location. They fly during the day, especially with warm and sunny weather, feeding on nectar of various flowers. The larvae feed on wild thyme (''Thymus polytrichus'', ''Thymus serpyllum'', etc.). They occur from August to May and overwinter once or twice.

Distribution

This species can be is found in most of western, central and southern Europe, from

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the North Atlantic Ocean, in north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel, the Irish Sea, and St George's Channel. Ireland is the s ...

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

through to

Asia Minor Anatolia, tr, Anadolu Yarımadası), and the Anatolian plateau, also known as Asia Minor, is a large peninsula in Western Asia and the westernmost protrusion of the Asian continent. It constitutes the major part of modern-day Turkey. The re ...

, the

Caucasus The Caucasus () or Caucasia (), is a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea, mainly comprising Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and parts of Southern Russia. The Caucasus Mountains, including the Greater Caucasus range, have historica ...

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...

and across the

Palearctic The Palearctic or Palaearctic is the largest of the eight biogeographic realms of the Earth. It stretches across all of Eurasia north of the foothills of the Himalayas, and North Africa. The realm consists of several bioregions: the Euro-Sib ...

to the

Altai Mountains The Altai Mountains (), also spelled Altay Mountains, are a mountain range in Central and East Asia, where Russia, China, Mongolia and Kazakhstan converge, and where the rivers Irtysh and Ob have their headwaters. The massif merges with the ...

Habitat

''Zygaena purpuralis'' prefers sunny and grassy slopes, under cliffs and dry grassland.

Subspecies

There are several distinct sub-species: *''Zygaena purpuralis purpuralis'' *''Zygaena purpuralis austronubigena'' Verity 1946 *''Zygaena purpuralis caledonensis'' Reiss, 1931 ( Hebridean islands of

Skye The Isle of Skye, or simply Skye (; gd, An t-Eilean Sgitheanach or ; sco, Isle o Skye), is the largest and northernmost of the major islands in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland. The island's peninsulas radiate from a mountainous hub dominated ...

, Lismore,

Kerrera Kerrera (; gd, Cearara or ''Cearrara'') is an island in the Scottish Inner Hebrides, close to the town of Oban. In 2016 it had a population of 45, divided into two communities in the north and south of the island. Geology The oldest bedrock ...

Mull Mull may refer to: Places *Isle of Mull, a Scottish island in the Inner Hebrides ** Sound of Mull, between the Isle of Mull and the rest of Scotland * Mount Mull, Antarctica *Mull Hill, Isle of Man * Mull, Arkansas, a place along Arkansas Highway ...

Ulva Ulva (; gd, Ulbha) is a small island in the Inner Hebrides of Scotland, off the west coast of Mull. It is separated from Mull by a narrow strait, and connected to the neighbouring island of Gometra by a bridge. Much of the island is formed fro ...

Eigg Eigg (; gd, Eige; sco, Eigg) is one of the Small Isles in the Scottish Inner Hebrides. It lies to the south of the Isle of Skye and to the north of the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Eigg is long from north to south, and east to west. With an ar ...

, Canna, and

Rùm Rùm (), a Scottish Gaelic name often anglicised to Rum (), is one of the Small Isles of the Inner Hebrides, in the district of Lochaber, Scotland. For much of the 20th century the name became Rhum, a spelling invented by the former owner, Sir ...

and in a few localities on the Scottish mainland in

Kintyre Kintyre ( gd, Cinn Tìre, ) is a peninsula in western Scotland, in the southwest of Argyll and Bute. The peninsula stretches about , from the Mull of Kintyre in the south to East and West Loch Tarbert in the north. The region immediately nor ...

and parts of western

Argyllshire Argyll (; archaically Argyle, in modern Gaelic, ), sometimes called Argyllshire, is a historic county and registration county of western Scotland. Argyll is of ancient origin, and corresponds to most of the part of the ancient kingdom of ...

) *''Zygaena purpuralis dojranica'' Burgeff, 1926 *''Zygaena purpuralis fiorii'' Costantini, 1916 *''Zygaena purpuralis isarca'' Verity, 1922 *''Zygaena purpuralis lathyri'' Boisduval, 1828 *''Zygaena purpuralis magnalpina'' Verity, 1922 *''Zygaena purpuralis mirabilis'' Verity, 1922 *''Zygaena purpuralis nubigena'' Lederer, 1853 *''Zygaena purpuralis sabulosa'' Tremewan, 1976 (western Ireland in the Burren, Counties

Galway Galway ( ; ga, Gaillimh, ) is a city in the West of Ireland, in the province of Connacht, which is the county town of County Galway. It lies on the River Corrib between Lough Corrib and Galway Bay, and is the sixth most populous city on ...

and

Mayo Mayo often refers to: * Mayonnaise, often shortened to "mayo" * Mayo Clinic, a medical center in Rochester, Minnesota, United States Mayo may also refer to: Places Antarctica * Mayo Peak, Marie Byrd Land Australia * Division of Mayo, an Aust ...

and on

Inishmore Inishmore ( ga, Árainn , or ) is the largest of the Aran Islands in Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland. With an area of and a population of 762 (as of 2016), it is the second-largest island off the Irish coast (after Achill) a ...

, in the

Aran Islands The Aran Islands ( ; gle, Oileáin Árann, ) or The Arans (''na hÁrainneacha'' ) are a group of three islands at the mouth of Galway Bay, off the west coast of Ireland, with a total area around . They constitute the historic barony of Aran i ...

) *''Zygaena purpuralis segontii'' Tremewan, 1958 (occurred on sea-cliffs of the

Llŷn Peninsula The Llŷn Peninsula ( cy, Penrhyn Llŷn or , ) extends into the Irish Sea from North West Wales, south west of the Isle of Anglesey. It is part of the historic county of Caernarfonshire, and historic region and local authority area of Gwynedd. Mu ...

, Caernarvonshire. It has not been reported since 1962 and might be extinct)

References

External links

* *
Transparent burnet on UKmoths

Fauna Europaea

Lepiforum.de

Zygaena Moths of Europe Moths of Asia Moths described in 1763 Taxa named by Morten Thrane Brünnich {{Zygaenidae-stub