Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae
Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae
Adult, f. citrina • Maiden Castle, Dorset • © Paul Harris

54.009 BF171

Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet Zygaena lonicerae

(Scheven, 1777)


Wingspan 30-46 mm.

A variable species with a number of subspecies and forms occurring in Britain. The subspecies latomarginata is the most widespread, occurring in much of England except the south-west, and south Wales. The subspecies jocelynae is found locally on the Isle of Skye, the only Scottish location, and ssp. insularis occurs in Ireland.

It occupies grassland, chalk downland and sea-cliffs, and the larval foodplants are such low plants as clover (Trifolium) and vetch (Lathyrus).

The adults fly in the daytime, visiting various flowers, and are on the wing in June and July.
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