Zygaena viciae, the New Forest burnet moth, is a member of the Zygaenidae family, found in the northern hemisphere. Since 1927 it has been extinct in the New Forest, England, after which it is named. It is also known in Europe as the small five-spotted ram.
Distribution and habitat The moth is found in southern and central Europe, and in Scotland (Z. v. argylliensis), where it survives in very small numbers. It is also found in southern Scandinavia. In the east, the range extends to Lake Baikal.Fauna Europaea
Life cycle and behaviour Pale green/yellow eggs are laid in clusters. The larvae feed on the leaves of clover and vetch species. Their appearance varies with region, but they are generally green, with yellow and black spots. They pupate within a cocoon attached to foliage. The adults' wingspan is 22–32 mm, they fly by day, and they are on wing in July.
Subspecies
Zygaena viciae viciae Zygaena viciae argyllensis Tremewan, 1967 Zygaena viciae bosniensis Reiss, 1922 Zygaena viciae charon Hübner, 1796 Zygaena viciae dacica Burgeff, 1914 Zygaena viciae ehnbergii Reuter, 1893 Zygaena viciae fernandezi Gomez Bustillo & Fernandez-Rubio, 1976 Zygaena viciae hulda Reiss & Reiss, 1972 Zygaena viciae italica Caradja, 1895 Zygaena viciae nigrescens Reiss, 1921 Zygaena viciae nobilis Navas, 1924 Zygaena viciae rhaetica Burgeff, 1926 Zygaena viciae sicula Calberla, 1895 Zygaena viciae silbernageli Reiss, 1943 Zygaena viciae silenus Burgeff, 1926 Zygaena viciae stentzii Freyer, 1839 Zygaena viciae subglocknerica Reiss, 1943 Zygaena viciae ytenensis Briggs, 1888
References
Bibliography
External links
Lepiforum e. V. schmetterling-raupe Moths and Butterflies of Europe and North Africa Ian Kimber: Guide to the moths of Great Britain and Ireland