Occitan Burnet
Common NameOccitan Burnet
Scientific NameZygaena occitanica
FamilyZygaenidae
SubfamilyZygaeninae
Wingspan (mm)30
Wing Patternspotted
Primary Colorsdark blue, red, white
HabitatDry, rocky grasslands, garrigue, maquis, calcareous hillsides
Geographic RangeSouthern Europe (e.g., France, Spain, Italy, Portugal) and parts of North Africa
Host PlantsOnobrychis, Lotus corniculatus
Flight PeriodMay to August
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesLarvae are typically green with yellow stripes and black spots, feeding on Fabaceae plants. They overwinter as larvae and pupate in a silken cocoon attached to vegetation.
Identification TipsLook for the specific arrangement of 5-6 red spots on the forewings, often with some fused, combined with prominent white markings and the characteristic clubbed antennae of burnet moths.
Description
This moth has iridescent dark blue-green forewings marked with several bright red spots and distinctive white streaks along the costa and termen. Its body is dark with some white banding.
