Mountain Burnet
Common NameMountain Burnet
Scientific NameZygaena exulans
FamilyZygaenidae
SubfamilyZygaeninae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsblack, red, grey
HabitatAlpine meadows, subalpine grasslands, rocky slopes
Geographic RangeEuropean mountain ranges (Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians, Scandinavia), parts of Siberia and Mongolia
Host PlantsTrifolium repens, Lotus corniculatus, Astragalus alpinus, Vaccinium uliginosum
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are greenish-yellow with black spots and feed on various low-growing plants. They overwinter as larvae, sometimes for two years, before pupating in a silken cocoon near the ground.
Identification TipsLook for its dark greyish-black forewings with distinct red spots and red hindwings with a dark border. Its preference for high-altitude, mountainous habitats is also a key identifier.
Description
A day-flying moth with a fuzzy black body and dark greyish-black forewings adorned with prominent, often irregular, red spots. The hindwings are typically red with a dark border.
