Zygaena cynarae

Zygaena cynarae is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found from France east to Russia.[1]

Zygaena cynarae
Z. c. cynarae and Z. c. turatii in Seitz
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Lepidoptera
Family:
Zygaenidae
Genus:
Zygaena
Species:
Z. cynarae
Binomial name
Zygaena cynarae
(Esper, 1789)
Synonyms
  • Sphinx cynarae Esper, 1789
  • Sphinx veronicae Borkhausen, 1789
  • Sphinx millefolii Borkhausen, 1789
  • Sphinx cinarae Esper, 1800
  • Zygaena uralensis Herrich-Schäffer, 1846
  • Zygaena genistae Herrich-Schäffer, 1846
  • Zygaena goberti Le Charles, 1952
  • Zygaena slovakica Reiss, 1968
  • Zygaena turatii Standfuss, 1892

It is a large Zygaena with translucent wings with oval or rounded red spots. The anterior median spot is well developed.The basal posterior and median posterior spots are large and linked with a red line which can be missing in some specimens.The wingspan is about 30–31 mm.[2]

Technical description and variation (Seitz)
For a key to the terms used, see Glossary of entomology terms.

Z. cynarae Exp. (= millefolii Esp.) 5-spotted, the body entirely without hairs, with metallic green gloss; wings very sparsely scaled, the colour appearing pale. The abdomen bears a red ring which is more distinct at the sides than above. In ab. turatii Stdf. [now subspecies] the abdominal belt is entirely missing above, appearing only as a lateral spot; North Italy, Dalmatia; near Pegli, at the Riviera, I met constantly with this form, while it occurs elsewhere only sparingly among the type-form. — ab. tricingulata Burgeff [ synonym of cynarae ] has 3 abdominal belts, which, however, are usually red only above and laterally, not below. —. In genistae H.-Sch. (= dahurica H.-Sch. ), from South France, Hungary and the Tyrol, the forewing is paler and more transparent. — centaureae Fisch.-Wald. [now full species Zygaena centaureae ] has a stronger antenna and the 5th spot is prolonged towards the hind angle. — Larva greenish above, yellowish grey at the sides ; subdorsal black dots, near which there are yellow spots; head greyish green.[3]

Biology

Adults are on wing from mid May to July.

The larvae feed on Peucedanum species, including Peucedanum cervaria.[4] Part of the larvae overwinter multiple times. Full-grown larvae can be found from April to the beginning of June.

It is a very local and sedentary species, which requires dense colonies of its hostplant. They are sluggish and clumsy insects; the individuals occur more singly, there being apparently no decided flight-places as is the case with other Burnets.

Subspecies
  • Zygaena cynarae cynarae
  • Zygaena cynarae adriatica Burgeff, 1926
  • Zygaena cynarae florianii Dujardin, 1965
  • Zygaena cynarae franconica Holik, 1936
  • Zygaena cynarae goberti Le Charles, 1952
  • Zygaena cynarae jadovnika Rauch, 1977
  • Zygaena cynarae samarensis Holik, 1939
  • Zygaena cynarae tolmezzana Meier, 1957
  • Zygaena cynarae turatii Standfuss, 1892
  • Zygaena cynarae tusca Verity, 1930
  • Zygaena cynarae vallettensis Reiss, 1958
  • Zygaena cynarae waltharii Burgeff, 1926

References
  1. Fauna Europaea
  2. lepiforum.de
  3. Seitz, A., 1913, in Seitz, Gross-Schmett. Erde 6: 22.,The Macrolepidoptera of the Palearctic Fauna 2. Volume: The Palearctic Bombyces & Sphinges. pdf This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  4. Schmetterlinge und ihre Ökologie


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