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Burnet moth

 

 

July-August is the flight time of the burnet moths. They are easy to see, with a slow flight and daytime way of life: in the hot period they are happy to sit on flowering plants or grasses. They like the flowers of the field scabious (Knautia arvensis).

 

For neighbours red-black is a warning colour, and so the burnets do not need to conceal themselves particularly much (in fact the main colour of the wings is metallic blue). The message to birds is that the yellow liquid secreted by burnets is toxic to them. Burnets do not fear humans and even allow themselves to be picked up.  

 

The wing spread of the narrow-bordered five-spot burnet is between three and four centimetres and on the forewings are five red spots; the rear wings are red, with black edges.

 

On the mainland we most often meet the narrow-bordered five-spot burnet described above and the New Forest burnet (Zygaena viciae) On Saaremaa the Zygaena diaphana also occurs. A few more similar species exist but they will be for entomologists to identify: the six-spotted burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) and the Zygaena osterodensis.

 

New Forest burnets