The
six-spot burnet (
Zygaena filipendulae) is a
moth of the family
Zygaenidae. It is a common species throughout Europe, except the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, northern Scandinavia and the Great Russian North, and is also present in Asia Minor, through the Caucasus to Syria and Lebanon. It inhabits meadows, woodland clearings, sea-cliffs and area rich in grasses and flowers, up to 2,000 m altitude. The adults fly on hot, sunny days and are attracted to a wide variety of flowers such as
knapweed and
scabious, as well as the larval food plants
bird's foot trefoil,
Dorycnium,
Coronilla and
clover. This six-spot burnet was photographed in
Kulna, Estonia.
Photograph credit: Ivar Leidus