Sussex Moth Group: Zygaena trifolii

Zygaena trifolii (Esper, 1783)

Subspecies:
     Zygaena trifolii trifolii (Esper, 1783)
     Zygaena trifolii decreta Verity, 1925
     Zygaena trifolii palustrella Verity, 1925
     Zygaena trifolii subsyracusia Verity, 1925

Five-spot Burnet
54.0100 (B&F: 170)

»Suborder: Glossata
  »Superfamily: Zygaenoidea
    »Family: Zygaenidae
      »Subfamily: Zygaeninae
        »Tribe: Zygaenini

Number of records: 245
Recorded in: 103 1km grid squares
Date of most recent record: 16 vi 2024

Identification
difficulty

: 3Species that are difficult to identify. Even experienced recorders may be expected to provide additional evidence, for example a specimen, particularly if the record is outside of the normal flight period or geographical range of the species.

Of the two races of this species the "marsh" subsp. decreta is presumed extinct throughout the region since around the 1930's. The "chalk" subsp. palustrella is resident and in serious decline and usually occurs sparingly but is sometimes fairly common or even common on the chalk. In danger of extinction in the East and extremely local and very irregular in numbers. Single-brooded, flying mainly from late May to late June. Larvae feed on bird's-foot trefoil. Clovers are an unconfirmed additional food plant. (Pratt, 2011)