Zygaena cynarae is a species of moth in the Zygaenidae family. It is found from France east to Russia.[1]

Zygaena cynarae
Z. c. cynarae and Z. c. turatii in Seitz
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Lepidoptera
Family:	Zygaenidae
Genus:	Zygaena
Species:	Z. cynarae
Binomial name
Zygaena cynarae (Esper, 1789)
Synonyms
Sphinx cynarae Esper, 1789 Sphinx veronicae Borkhausen, 1789 Sphinx millefolii Borkhausen, 1789 Sphinx cinarae Esper, 1800 Zygaena uralensis Herrich-Schäffer, 1846 Zygaena genistae Herrich-Schäffer, 1846 Zygaena goberti Le Charles, 1952 Zygaena slovakica Reiss, 1968 Zygaena turatii Standfuss, 1892

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.[2]

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.[3]

Biology

Adults are on wing from mid May to July.

The larvae feed on Peucedanum species, including Peucedanum cervaria.[4] 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

References

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