Six-spot Burnet
Zygaena filipendulae
The adult six-spot burnet moth flies by day in flower-rich grasslands, coastal slopes, and open woodland clearings. It feeds on nectar, especially from knapweeds, scabious, and other purple flowers, while its larvae feed mainly on bird's-foot trefoil. Its bright red-and-black wings advertise cyanogenic defensive chemicals that make it unpalatable to many predators. Unlike most moths, it is frequently active in warm sunshine and may be mistaken for a butterfly.
- Type
- Wing / Venom
- Conservation status
- NE
Growth chain
- ?
- ?
- Six-spot Burnet