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Zygaena ephialtes

Zygaena ephialtes is day-flying species of burnet moth found in Europe.[1] It is typically found in xeric habitats, and populations have recently decreased.[2] It also exhibits Müllerian mimicry with other species, like Amata phegea.[3][4]

Zygaena ephialtes
Ephialtoid form
Peucedanoid form
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Zygaenidae
Genus: Zygaena
Species:
Z. ephialtes
Binomial name
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

Description edit

Z. ephialtes typically fly during the day. Adult butterfly flight is often characterized as slow. As characteristic of Zygaenidae moths, they have prominent spots on their wings, which alerts predators that they contain toxins.[1]

Technical description and variation edit

Z. ephialtes L. (= falcatae Boisd.) (5 i, k). Forewing with 6 spots; the basal pair red, the others white; hindwing with a white dot. Abdomen with red belt. From South Germany and Switzerland, eastwards to Greece and South Siberia. — medusa Pall. [ now Z. ephialtes ssp. medusa Pallas, 1771] (5 k) is the form without the 6. spot: being especially frequent in the eastern districts of the area. — In the west of the area, especially in Northern Italy, South Germany, Austria, and also in some of the Balcan States, there occur two forms which are marked like ephialtes resp. medusa, but have the 2 basal spots of the forewing and the abdominal belt deep yellow instead of red; these forms are coronillae Esp.[ now Z. ephialtes ssp. coronillae [Denis & Schiffermüller] ], (6a) with 6 spots, and trigonellae Esp. [ now Z. ephialtes ssp. coronillae [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 ] (6a) with 5 spots. — Likewise in Austria there occur, often together with other forms at the same places, two varieties in which the spots of the forewing as well as the whole hindwing except the black margin are yellow; these are icterica Led. [now Z. ephialtes ssp. coronillae [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 ] (6 a) with 6 spots, and aeacus Esp. [now Z. ephialtes ssp. coronillae [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 ] (6 b) with 5 spots on the forewing. Sometimes the yellow colour has a strong reddish tint; such forms are named by Hirschke princi (6b), if there are 6 spots, and aurantiaca if there are 5. — Also red forms are found which are similar in appearance to red-belted filipendulae resp trifolii ab. orobi , being also the most northern forms. They are peucedani Esp. [ now Z. ephialtes ssp. peucedani Esper, 1780] (= hippocrepidis H.-Sch.; aeacus Hubn.) (6b) with 6 spots, and athamanthae Esp.[ now Z. ephialtes ssp. athamanthae Esper, 1789] (= veronicae Bkh.) (6c) with 5. The red colour of the hindwing of these forms may more and more be replaced by the black marginal guenneri. band, being finally represented only by a red central spot. These forms are ab. guenneri Hirschke [ now Z. ephialtes ssp. coronillae [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775] , if there are 6 spots, and ab. metzgeri Hirschke [ now Z. ephialtes ssp. coronillae [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775], if there are 5. — We have further to mention a group of aberrations in which the hindwing bears two small spots instead of a single white or red one. This modification is known of nearly all the above-mentioned forms and has received special names. Thus, ephialtes with 2 white spots to the hindwing bears the name sophiae Favre, the corresponding form of medusa being aemilii Favre, while coronillae with 2 spots is bahri Hirschke and the corresponding trigonellae- form wutzdorffi Hirschke. — Larva yellow or green, reddish yellow at the sides, with pale belts; a dorsal stripe and subdorsal rows of spots black; above the legs rows of black dots ; on the whole similar to the larva of filipendulae ; in May adult on Vetch, Trefoil, Thyme, Eryngium, Plantago, etc., the black pupa in a white-yellow silky cocoon. The imagines fly in July in meadows, venturing even into gardens; they are especially often found resting on the heads of thistles standing near the edges of woods and on fallow ground, sometimes one finds only one form at a certain place, sometimes several forms fly about at the same time in one field, copulating together, the offspring, however, not having mixed or transitional characters. Occasionally specimens of this species have been met with which were in copula with individuals of entirely different species. [5]

Range edit

This family of moths is spread throughout most of Europe, ranging from Spain to the Ural Mountains. It is not found in the British Isles, northern Europe, or certain islands in the Mediterranean.[2][3]

Habitat edit

A study was done by Jakub Horak that focused on populations in the Czech Republic.[2] Many previously unknown habitat preferences of Z. ephialtes were found. This species cannot survive in forested areas or areas with a closed canopy. Z. ephialtes prefer xeric conditions, and were rarely found in more humid areas. The two times they were found in non-exeric areas, the areas were previously xeric sites that were abandoned. The xeric areas that were studied also had many species that are specifically associated with xeric environments, referred to as xeric specialists. Some of these species include Phengaris arion, Psophus stridulus, Polyommatus coridon, Polyommatus daphnis, Plebjus argus, and Zygaena carniolica. This study showed that Z. ephialtes is an important part of xeric habitats.[2]

Behavior edit

Migration edit

Because of the slower nature of the adult butterflies' movement, a typical butterfly's range was thought to be on the smaller side. However, after observing populations in the Czech Republic, it was found that this species was found during quick flying events over longer distances.[2]

Life cycle edit

Eggs edit

The eggs are pale yellow. They are laid in a single layer and in many batches.[2]

Caterpillars edit

Caterpillars appear yellow with small black portions.[2]

Pupae edit

Pupae appear brown and are typically found on the stems of grasses.[2]

Adults edit

Z. ephialtes are one of the largest species of burnet moths. Their flight has been described as slow and undulating.[2]

Host plants edit

There are many host plants for Z. ephialtes. The most common are Coronilla emerus, Securigera varia (purple crown vetch) and Hippocrepis comosa (horseshoe vetch). Another species that has been observed less frequently is Hippocrepis emerus (scorpion senna).[2]

Mimicry edit

Amata phegea is another spotted moth species that looks similar to Z. ephialtes.[3][4] Because Z. ephialtes is unpalatable to other species, A. phegea takes advantage of this. Z. ephialtes is hyper-polymorphic, with two main forms- peucedanoid or ephialtoid. The peucedanoid form consists of a colored forewing and hindwing with spots. The ephialtoid form consists of all the forewing spots being white except the two basal spots, and the hindwings being black with a white spot. Either of these forms can be red or yellow. The yellow form has been found to be more advantageous than the red one.[3][4]

Subspecies edit

Subspecies include:[6]

  • Zygaena ephialtes ephialtes
  • Zygaena ephialtes albaflavens Verity, 1920
  • Zygaena ephialtes albarubens Verity, 1946
  • Zygaena ephialtes athamanthae (Esper, 1789)
  • Zygaena ephialtes bohemia Reiss, 1922
  • Zygaena ephialtes chalkidikae Holik, 1937
  • Zygaena ephialtes corcyrica Rauch, 1981
  • Zygaena ephialtes coronillae (Denis & Schiffermuller, 1775)
  • Zygaena ephialtes danastriensis Holik, 1939
  • Zygaena ephialtes istoki Silbernagel, 1944
  • Zygaena ephialtes ligus Verity, 1946
  • Zygaena ephialtes lurica Dujardin, 1965
  • Zygaena ephialtes medusa (Pallas, 1771)
  • Zygaena ephialtes meridiei Burgeff, 1926
  • Zygaena ephialtes pannonica Holik, 1937
  • Zygaena ephialtes peucedani (Esper, 1780)
  • Zygaena ephialtes podolica Holik, 1932
  • Zygaena ephialtes retyesati Holik, 1948
  • Zygaena ephialtes roussilloni Koch, 1940
  • Zygaena ephialtes smolikana Naumann & Rose, 1981
  • Zygaena ephialtes tambovensis Holik & Sheljuzhko, 1953
  • Zygaena ephialtes taurida Holik & Sheljuzhko, 1953
  • Zygaena ephialtes transpadana Verity, 1946
  • Zygaena ephialtes tymphrestica Holik, 1948

Conservation edit

As mentioned earlier, this species is an integral part of xeric environments.[2] However, with the decline in these environments, the species is also vanishing from many of these regions. Because of changing environments, these butterflies are required to travel longer than normal distances to find suitable habitats. Populations are declining. Some sources say that this species is critically endangered. Recently there has been some human involvement with the species by protecting some xeric sites that the butterflies inhabit.[2]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Bonelli, Simona; Barbero, Francesca; Casacci, Luca Pietro; Cerrato, Cristiana; Balletto, Emilio (2015). "The butterfly fauna of the Italian Maritime Alps: results of the EDIT project" (PDF). Zoosystema. 37: 139–167. doi:10.5252/z2015n1a6. hdl:2318/150963. S2CID 86662167.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Habitat requirements of conspicuous burnet moth Zygaena ephialtes (Linnaeus, 1767; Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae) (PDF Download Available)". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2017-11-15.
  3. ^ a b c d Sbordoni, V.; Bullini, L.; Scarpelli, G.; Forestiero, S.; Rampini, M. (1979-02-01). "Mimicry in the burnet moth Zygaena ephialtes: population studies and evidence of a Batesian—Müllerian situation". Ecological Entomology. 4 (1): 83–93. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2311.1979.tb00563.x. ISSN 1365-2311. S2CID 84089477.
  4. ^ a b c Turner, J. R. G. (1971). "Studies of Müllerian Mimicry and its Evolution in Burnet Moths and Heliconid Butterflies". Ecological Genetics and Evolution. Springer. pp. 224–260. doi:10.1007/978-1-4757-0432-7_11. ISBN 9781475704341.
  5. ^ Seitz, A., 1913, in Seitz, Gross-Schmett. Erde 6: 22.,The Macrolepidoptera of the Palearctic Fauna 2. Volume: The Palearctic Bombyces & Sphinges. pdf   This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. ^ "Catalogue of Life: Zygaena ephialtes Linnaeus, 1767". www.catalogueoflife.org. Retrieved 2017-11-15.

zygaena, ephialtes, flying, species, burnet, moth, found, europe, typically, found, xeric, habitats, populations, have, recently, decreased, also, exhibits, müllerian, mimicry, with, other, species, like, amata, phegea, ephialtoid, form, peucedanoid, form, sci. Zygaena ephialtes is day flying species of burnet moth found in Europe 1 It is typically found in xeric habitats and populations have recently decreased 2 It also exhibits Mullerian mimicry with other species like Amata phegea 3 4 Zygaena ephialtes Ephialtoid form Peucedanoid form Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Lepidoptera Family Zygaenidae Genus Zygaena Species Z ephialtes Binomial name Zygaena ephialtes Linnaeus 1767 Synonyms Sphinx ephialtes Linnaeus 1767 Sphinx athamanthae Esper 1789 Sphinx coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 Sphynx medusa Pallas 1771 Sphinx peucedani Esper 1780 Contents 1 Description 2 Technical description and variation 3 Range 4 Habitat 5 Behavior 5 1 Migration 6 Life cycle 6 1 Eggs 6 2 Caterpillars 6 3 Pupae 6 4 Adults 7 Host plants 8 Mimicry 9 Subspecies 10 Conservation 11 ReferencesDescription editZ ephialtes typically fly during the day Adult butterfly flight is often characterized as slow As characteristic of Zygaenidae moths they have prominent spots on their wings which alerts predators that they contain toxins 1 Technical description and variation editFor a key to the terms used see Glossary of entomology terms Z ephialtes L falcatae Boisd 5 i k Forewing with 6 spots the basal pair red the others white hindwing with a white dot Abdomen with red belt From South Germany and Switzerland eastwards to Greece and South Siberia medusa Pall now Z ephialtes ssp medusa Pallas 1771 5 k is the form without the 6 spot being especially frequent in the eastern districts of the area In the west of the area especially in Northern Italy South Germany Austria and also in some of the Balcan States there occur two forms which are marked like ephialtes resp medusa but have the 2 basal spots of the forewing and the abdominal belt deep yellow instead of red these forms are coronillae Esp now Z ephialtes ssp coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 6a with 6 spots and trigonellae Esp now Z ephialtes ssp coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 6a with 5 spots Likewise in Austria there occur often together with other forms at the same places two varieties in which the spots of the forewing as well as the whole hindwing except the black margin are yellow these are icterica Led now Z ephialtes ssp coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 6 a with 6 spots and aeacus Esp now Z ephialtes ssp coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 6 b with 5 spots on the forewing Sometimes the yellow colour has a strong reddish tint such forms are named by Hirschke princi 6b if there are 6 spots and aurantiaca if there are 5 Also red forms are found which are similar in appearance to red belted filipendulae resp trifolii ab orobi being also the most northern forms They are peucedani Esp now Z ephialtes ssp peucedani Esper 1780 hippocrepidis H Sch aeacus Hubn 6b with 6 spots and athamanthae Esp now Z ephialtes ssp athamanthae Esper 1789 veronicae Bkh 6c with 5 The red colour of the hindwing of these forms may more and more be replaced by the black marginal guenneri band being finally represented only by a red central spot These forms are ab guenneri Hirschke now Z ephialtes ssp coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 if there are 6 spots and ab metzgeri Hirschke now Z ephialtes ssp coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 if there are 5 We have further to mention a group of aberrations in which the hindwing bears two small spots instead of a single white or red one This modification is known of nearly all the above mentioned forms and has received special names Thus ephialtes with 2 white spots to the hindwing bears the name sophiae Favre the corresponding form of medusa being aemilii Favre while coronillae with 2 spots is bahri Hirschke and the corresponding trigonellae form wutzdorffi Hirschke Larva yellow or green reddish yellow at the sides with pale belts a dorsal stripe and subdorsal rows of spots black above the legs rows of black dots on the whole similar to the larva of filipendulae in May adult on Vetch Trefoil Thyme Eryngium Plantago etc the black pupa in a white yellow silky cocoon The imagines fly in July in meadows venturing even into gardens they are especially often found resting on the heads of thistles standing near the edges of woods and on fallow ground sometimes one finds only one form at a certain place sometimes several forms fly about at the same time in one field copulating together the offspring however not having mixed or transitional characters Occasionally specimens of this species have been met with which were in copula with individuals of entirely different species 5 Range editThis family of moths is spread throughout most of Europe ranging from Spain to the Ural Mountains It is not found in the British Isles northern Europe or certain islands in the Mediterranean 2 3 Habitat editA study was done by Jakub Horak that focused on populations in the Czech Republic 2 Many previously unknown habitat preferences of Z ephialtes were found This species cannot survive in forested areas or areas with a closed canopy Z ephialtes prefer xeric conditions and were rarely found in more humid areas The two times they were found in non exeric areas the areas were previously xeric sites that were abandoned The xeric areas that were studied also had many species that are specifically associated with xeric environments referred to as xeric specialists Some of these species include Phengaris arion Psophus stridulus Polyommatus coridon Polyommatus daphnis Plebjus argus and Zygaena carniolica This study showed that Z ephialtes is an important part of xeric habitats 2 Behavior editMigration edit Because of the slower nature of the adult butterflies movement a typical butterfly s range was thought to be on the smaller side However after observing populations in the Czech Republic it was found that this species was found during quick flying events over longer distances 2 Life cycle editEggs edit The eggs are pale yellow They are laid in a single layer and in many batches 2 Caterpillars edit Caterpillars appear yellow with small black portions 2 Pupae edit Pupae appear brown and are typically found on the stems of grasses 2 Adults edit Z ephialtes are one of the largest species of burnet moths Their flight has been described as slow and undulating 2 Host plants editThere are many host plants for Z ephialtes The most common are Coronilla emerus Securigera varia purple crown vetch and Hippocrepis comosa horseshoe vetch Another species that has been observed less frequently is Hippocrepis emerus scorpion senna 2 Mimicry editAmata phegea is another spotted moth species that looks similar to Z ephialtes 3 4 Because Z ephialtes is unpalatable to other species A phegea takes advantage of this Z ephialtes is hyper polymorphic with two main forms peucedanoid or ephialtoid The peucedanoid form consists of a colored forewing and hindwing with spots The ephialtoid form consists of all the forewing spots being white except the two basal spots and the hindwings being black with a white spot Either of these forms can be red or yellow The yellow form has been found to be more advantageous than the red one 3 4 Subspecies editSubspecies include 6 Zygaena ephialtes ephialtes Zygaena ephialtes albaflavens Verity 1920 Zygaena ephialtes albarubens Verity 1946 Zygaena ephialtes athamanthae Esper 1789 Zygaena ephialtes bohemia Reiss 1922 Zygaena ephialtes chalkidikae Holik 1937 Zygaena ephialtes corcyrica Rauch 1981 Zygaena ephialtes coronillae Denis amp Schiffermuller 1775 Zygaena ephialtes danastriensis Holik 1939 Zygaena ephialtes istoki Silbernagel 1944 Zygaena ephialtes ligus Verity 1946 Zygaena ephialtes lurica Dujardin 1965 Zygaena ephialtes medusa Pallas 1771 Zygaena ephialtes meridiei Burgeff 1926 Zygaena ephialtes pannonica Holik 1937 Zygaena ephialtes peucedani Esper 1780 Zygaena ephialtes podolica Holik 1932 Zygaena ephialtes retyesati Holik 1948 Zygaena ephialtes roussilloni Koch 1940 Zygaena ephialtes smolikana Naumann amp Rose 1981 Zygaena ephialtes tambovensis Holik amp Sheljuzhko 1953 Zygaena ephialtes taurida Holik amp Sheljuzhko 1953 Zygaena ephialtes transpadana Verity 1946 Zygaena ephialtes tymphrestica Holik 1948Conservation editAs mentioned earlier this species is an integral part of xeric environments 2 However with the decline in these environments the species is also vanishing from many of these regions Because of changing environments these butterflies are required to travel longer than normal distances to find suitable habitats Populations are declining Some sources say that this species is critically endangered Recently there has been some human involvement with the species by protecting some xeric sites that the butterflies inhabit 2 References edit a b Bonelli Simona Barbero Francesca Casacci Luca Pietro Cerrato Cristiana Balletto Emilio 2015 The butterfly fauna of the Italian Maritime Alps results of the EDIT project PDF Zoosystema 37 139 167 doi 10 5252 z2015n1a6 hdl 2318 150963 S2CID 86662167 a b c d e f g h i j k l Habitat requirements of conspicuous burnet moth Zygaena ephialtes Linnaeus 1767 Lepidoptera Zygaenidae PDF Download Available ResearchGate Retrieved 2017 11 15 a b c d Sbordoni V Bullini L Scarpelli G Forestiero S Rampini M 1979 02 01 Mimicry in the burnet moth Zygaena ephialtes population studies and evidence of a Batesian Mullerian situation Ecological Entomology 4 1 83 93 doi 10 1111 j 1365 2311 1979 tb00563 x ISSN 1365 2311 S2CID 84089477 a b c Turner J R G 1971 Studies of Mullerian Mimicry and its Evolution in Burnet Moths and Heliconid Butterflies Ecological Genetics and Evolution Springer pp 224 260 doi 10 1007 978 1 4757 0432 7 11 ISBN 9781475704341 Seitz A 1913 in Seitz Gross Schmett Erde 6 22 The Macrolepidoptera of the Palearctic Fauna 2 Volume The Palearctic Bombyces amp Sphinges pdf nbsp This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain Catalogue of Life Zygaena ephialtes Linnaeus 1767 www catalogueoflife org Retrieved 2017 11 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zygaena ephialtes amp oldid 1156093728, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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