007 Zygaena viciae (New Forest Burnet)

54.007 Zygaena viciae argyllensis (New Forest Burnet)

ws: 21-31mm, fw: 12-14mm; Jul; meadow-vetchling (Lathyrus pratensis), common bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus); RDB - one site in west Argyll
Protected under Schedule 5 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act (1981)

Zygaena viciae (New Forest Burnet) §1

ID: Smaller than all other Zygaena species except Z.exulans (which is only known from the Eastern Cairngorms). Its Scandinavian name translates as "Lesser Burnet" a far more sensible name than the current English name given that subspecies ytenensis, which formerly occurred in the New Forest, has been extinct since 1927. In comparison with the 5-spot Burnets, apart from being smaller, Z.viciae has a more rounded forewing apex, a weaker antennal club and more contrast in size between the smaller spot 3 and the larger spot 4. As a rough guide spot 3 has less than half the area of spot 4 in Z.viciae and more than half in Z.trifolii/lonicerae. The shape of spot 4 is subquadrate in Z.viciae and more rounded in Z.trifolii/lonicerae. Z.exulans is distinguished by having spot 1 elongate, extending as far as spot 3.

Page published 23/07/2012 (§1)