Zygaena ephialtes, variable burnet Ephialtoid form Zygaena ephialtes
Description
English: Zygaena ephialtes, ephialtoid form. Regional Park of Antola, Genova, Italy
Date 18 July 2009
Author Hectonichus https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Hectonichus
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Zygaenidae_-_Zygaena_ephialtes.JPG
Zygaena ephialtes is a species of burnet moth in the family Zygaenidae. This species can be found in most of Europe, except Ireland, Great Britain, the Netherlands, Portugal, Fennoscandia, Denmark, Estonia and Latvia. This moth is a polymorphic species having different mimetic forms. There is an ephialtoid form similar in coloration to the genus Amata of tiger moths (Arctiidae) (see Amata phegea). They are characterized by white spots on the upper wing surface and the wear a yellow ring segment. In contrast, the peucedanoid form is similar to the six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae). They have five or six red spots on the upper wing surface and have a red body ring. Order: Lepidoptera, Family: Zygaenidae, Genus: Zygaena, Species: Zygaena ephialtes (Linnaeus, 1767).
Synonyms:
Sphinx ephialtes Linnaeus, 1767
Sphinx athamanthae Esper, 1789
Sphinx coronillae Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775
Sphynx medusa Pallas, 1771
Sphinx peucedani Esper, 1780