Transparent Burnet
Common NameTransparent Burnet
Scientific NameZygaena purpuralis
FamilyZygaenidae
SubfamilyZygaeninae
Wingspan (mm)34
Primary Colorsblack, red
HabitatDry grasslands, heathland, coastal cliffs, open woodlands
Geographic RangeEurope (from Spain to Russia), parts of Asia
Host PlantsThymus serpyllum, Thymus vulgaris
Flight PeriodJune to August
Flight Stylefluttering
Conservation Statusleast-concern
Lifecycle NotesEggs are laid on host plants, typically thyme. Larvae feed on the leaves, then pupate in a silken cocoon attached to vegetation, often low to the ground.
Identification TipsLook for the characteristic red streak on the forewings and the slightly translucent quality of the wings. It is a day-flying moth with a slow, fluttering flight, often found in dry, calcareous habitats where its host plant, wild thyme, grows.
Description
A small, stout-bodied moth with a fuzzy black body and clubbed antennae. Its forewings are dark grey to black with a distinctive, somewhat translucent red streak, while the hindwings are dark.
