Fauna
Insect · GBIF taxon 7761138

Five-spot Burnet

Zygaena trifolii

Also known as Five-spotted Burnet Moth

Five-spot burnets flutter sluggishly through sunlit damp meadows and chalk grasslands, flashing crimson warning spots against glossy blue-black forewings. These day-flying moths synthesize hydrogen cyanide internally, rendering adults and caterpillars highly unpalatable to birds and other predators. Adults frequently cluster together on knapweeds and scabious to sip nectar during warm summer days before females deposit eggs on larval food plants.

Day-flyingToxicMoth
Five-spot Burnet reference1 / 7
Licensed reference(c) Céline, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Céline · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Key facts
Diet & prey
  • Nectar from knapweed
  • Nectar from scabious
  • Nectar from thistle
Predators
  • Birds
  • Spiders
  • Robber flies
ThreatsLoss of flower-rich damp grasslands to drainage and development.
HabitatsDamp grasslands, marshes, coastal cliffs, and chalk downs.
Life span1 year
Classification
  1. FamilyZygaenidae
  2. SpeciesZygaena trifolii
Range & activity
Range data is not available yet.
Safe observation
Interaction riskHigh
  1. Low
  2. Moderate
  3. High
  4. Very high
Why interaction risk is high
Contains cyanogenic toxins to deter predators; safe to observe from a close distance.
Why it is dangerous
Contains cyanogenic glycosides and hydrogen cyanide that render all life stages toxic if swallowed.
How to recognize a risky encounter
Look for metallic black forewings with five red spots and crimson hindwings bordered in black.
What to do
Observe and photograph without touching or disturbing the resting adults.
Responsible observation
  • Observe quietly: Approach slowly on warm summer days while they feed on purple flower heads.
  • Count spots: Look closely at the forewing pattern to distinguish the five red spots.
  • Protect habitat: Avoid stepping on host plants like bird's-foot trefoil in delicate meadows.
Related species
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?

Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.

Checking your Fauna account…