Zygaena purpuralis
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Subkingdom: | Eumetazoa |
| Superphylum: | Ecdysozoa |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Subphylum: | Hexapoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Subclass: | Pterygota |
| Infraclass: | Neoptera |
| Superorder: | Panorpida |
| Order: | Lepidoptera |
| Superfamily: | Zygaenoidea |
| Family: | Zygaenidae |
| Subfamily: | Zygaeninae |
| Genus: | Zygaena |
| Subgenus: | Mesembrynus |
The Transparent Burnet (Zygaena purpuralis) is a moth of the Zygaenidae family.
Zygaena purpuralis is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan reaching 30–34 millimetres (1.2–1.3 in). Usually the forewings show three bright red longitudinal streaks quite variable in shape, with almost transparent greyish-bluish edges. Hind wings are more extensively or almost completely bright red. Head and thorax are black, while the abdomen is dark blue. Adults 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. Larvae are yellow, with some lines of small black spots. The larva feed on wild thyme (Thymus polytrichus, Thymus serpyllum, etc). They occur from August to May and overwinter once or twice.
This species can be is found in most of central and southern Europe, from France through to Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Russia and the Altai Mountains. Zygaena purpuralis prefers sunny and grassy slopes, undercliffs and xerophilous steppes.
Synonyms: Zygaena reissi, Zygaena reissiana, Zygaena reissoides, Zygaena hibernica, Zygaena simferopolica, Zygaena guhni, Zygaena neumanni, Zygaena purpurella, Zygaena fatrensis, Zygaena subalpicola, Zygaena bezauensis
Common name(s): Transparent Burnet
Zygaena purpuralis is a medium-sized moth with a wingspan reaching 30–34 millimetres (1.2–1.3 in). Usually the forewings show three bright red longitudinal streaks quite variable in shape, with almost transparent greyish-bluish edges. Hind wings are more extensively or almost completely bright red. Head and thorax are black, while the abdomen is dark blue. Adults 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. Larvae are yellow, with some lines of small black spots. The larva feed on wild thyme (Thymus polytrichus, Thymus serpyllum, etc). They occur from August to May and overwinter once or twice.
This species can be is found in most of central and southern Europe, from France through to Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Russia and the Altai Mountains. Zygaena purpuralis prefers sunny and grassy slopes, undercliffs and xerophilous steppes.
Synonyms: Zygaena reissi, Zygaena reissiana, Zygaena reissoides, Zygaena hibernica, Zygaena simferopolica, Zygaena guhni, Zygaena neumanni, Zygaena purpurella, Zygaena fatrensis, Zygaena subalpicola, Zygaena bezauensis
Common name(s): Transparent Burnet
Sightings Heatmap
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