Insect · GBIF taxon 8426357
narrow-bordered five-spot burnet
Zygaena loniceraeAlso known as Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Moth
Narrow-bordered five-spot burnets flutter through sun-drenched meadows with slow, heavy flight, advertising their chemical toxicity with striking crimson spots on glossy black forewings. Caterpillars feed primarily on leguminous plants like bird's-foot trefoil and meadow vetchling before spinning tough, parchment-like cocoons high on grass stems. Highly active on warm summer days, adults frequently gather in clusters to feed on purple blooms such as knapweeds and scabious.
Day-flyingToxicMeadow
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Knapweed nectar
- Bird's-foot trefoil
- Meadow vetchling
Predators
- Birds
- Crab spiders
- Parasitoid wasps
ThreatsHabitat destruction from agricultural intensification, overgrazing, and scrub encroachment
HabitatsUnimproved grasslands, chalk downlands, damp meadows, and woodland clearings
Life span1 year
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyZygaenidae
- SpeciesZygaena lonicerae
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Contains cyanogenic glucosides; avoid handling and do not allow pets to eat them.
- Why it is dangerous
- Synthesizes hydrogen cyanide, causing toxicity and distress if ingested by animals or humans.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Recognizable by glossy black wings with five bright red spots and long, clubbed antennae.
- What to do
- Do not collect or handle the moths, and keep pets from snapping at low-flying individuals.
Responsible observation
- Timing: Look for adults flying during warm, sunny weather from June through July.
- Approach: Walk slowly through meadows, as resting moths on flower heads are easy to photograph.
- Host Vegetation: Scan patches of trefoils and vetches to spot both caterpillars and papery cocoons.
Look-alike (c) Céline, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Céline · cc-by
Host Plant (c) Douglas Goldman, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Douglas Goldman · cc-by-sa
Nectar Source (c) Michael D. Pirie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Michael D. Pirie · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Kostas Zontanos, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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