Six-spot Burnet
Scientific name: Zygaena filipendulae
June - August. All over Britain, mainly coastal in Scotland. Medium-sized black moth with six red, occasionally yellow, spots. Frequents flowery grassland, woodland rides and sandhills.
The only British burnet moth with six red spots on each forewing, although care must be taken with identification, as in some cases the outermost spots can be fused. Rarely the red colour is replaced by yellow.
Flies with a usually slow buzzing flight during sunshine and is attracted to a range of flowers including thistles, knapweeds and scabious.
Size and Family
- Family – Burnets and Foresters (Zygaenids)
- Medium Sized
Conservation status
- UK BAP: Not listed
- Common
Particular Caterpillar Food Plants
Common Bird’s-foot Trefoil, but also occasionally on Greater Bird’s-foot Trefoil.
Distribution
- Countries – England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland
- The commonest and most widely distributed burnet moth in the UK. Well distributed in England, Wales and Ireland, becoming more coastal in Scotland and found on the Outer Hebrides. Also found on the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
Habitat
Frequents flowery grasslands, including downland, cliff-edges, woodland rides, roadside verges and sand-dunes.
