Zygaena cynarae is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found from France east to Russia.Fauna Europaea
It is a large Zygaena with translucent wings with oval or rounded red spots. The anterior median spot is well developed. The basal posterior and median posterior spots are large and linked with a red line which can be missing in some specimens. The wingspan is about 30–31 mm.lepiforum.de
Technical description and variation (Seitz)
Z. cynarae Exp. (= millefolii Esp.) 5-spotted, the body entirely without hairs, with metallic green gloss; wings very sparsely scaled, the colour appearing pale. The abdomen bears a red ring which is more distinct at the sides than above. In ab. turatii Stdf. [now subspecies] the abdominal belt is entirely missing above, appearing only as a lateral spot; North Italy, Dalmatia; near Pegli, at the Riviera, I met constantly with this form, while it occurs elsewhere only sparingly among the type-form. — ab. tricingulata Burgeff [ synonym of cynarae ] has 3 abdominal belts, which, however, are usually red only above and laterally, not below. —. In genistae H.-Sch. (= dahurica H.-Sch. ), from South France, Hungary and the Tyrol, the forewing is paler and more transparent. — centaureae Fisch.-Wald. [now full species Zygaena centaureae ] has a stronger antenna and the 5th spot is prolonged towards the hind angle. — Larva greenish above, yellowish grey at the sides; subdorsal black dots, near which there are yellow spots; head greyish green.Seitz, A., 1913, in Seitz, Gross-Schmett. Erde 6: 22., The Macrolepidoptera of the Palearctic Fauna 2. Volume: The Palearctic Bombyces & Sphinges. pdf
Biology Adults are on wing from mid May to July.
The larvae feed on Peucedanum species, including Peucedanum cervaria.Schmetterlinge und ihre Ökologie Part of the larvae overwinter multiple times. Full-grown larvae can be found from April to the beginning of June.
It is a very local and sedentary species, which requires dense colonies of its hostplant. They are sluggish and clumsy insects; the individuals occur more singly, there being apparently no decided flight-places as is the case with other Burnets.
Subspecies Zygaena cynarae cynarae Zygaena cynarae adriatica Burgeff, 1926 Zygaena cynarae florianii Dujardin, 1965 Zygaena cynarae franconica Holik, 1936 Zygaena cynarae goberti Le Charles, 1952 Zygaena cynarae jadovnika Rauch, 1977 Zygaena cynarae samarensis Holik, 1939 Zygaena cynarae tolmezzana Meier, 1957 Zygaena cynarae turatii Standfuss, 1892 Zygaena cynarae tusca Verity, 1930 Zygaena cynarae vallettensis Reiss, 1958 Zygaena cynarae waltharii Burgeff, 1926
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