''Zygaena minos'' is a member of the family
Zygaenidae. It is found in most of
Europe, except
Ireland,
Great Britain, the
Benelux, the
Iberian Peninsula and
Norway.
Fauna Europaea
/ref>
It is very similar to '' Zygaena purpuralis'' with which it forms a species complex and only separable by genital preparation or by the larval foodplant. The wingspan is 33–37 mm. It flies in June and July.The white-gray larvae feed on ''Pimpinella saxifraga
''Pimpinella saxifraga'', known as burnet-saxifrage, solidstem burnet saxifrage, lesser burnet is a plant species in the family Apiaceae, a native of the British Isles and temperate Europe and Western Asia. It is neither a burnet, which its l ...
'' and ''Eryngium
''Eryngium'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Apiaceae. There are about 250 species.Wang, P., et al. (2012)Phytochemical constituents and pharmacological activities of ''Eryngium'' L. (Apiaceae). ''Pharmaceutical Crops'' 3 99-120. The ...
'' species.
The species is only found in a few places in Denmark, and the population there is slowly declining.
Subspecies
*''Zygaena minos minos''
*''Zygaena minos normanna'' Verity 1922
*''Zygaena minos peloponnesica'' Holik, 1937
*''Zygaena minos sareptensis'' Rebel, 1901
*''Zygaena minos viridescens'' Burgeff, 1926
References
Bibliography
*Top-Jensen, M. & M. Fibiger. 2009. ''Danmarks sommerfugle''. Bugbook Publisher. .
Zygaena
Moths of Europe
Moths described in 1775
{{Zygaenidae-stub