Zygaena sarpedon (Hubner, 1790)
Commonly known as the “Royal Burnet”
Family: Zygaena sarpedon.
Adults: May to August (Alicante).
Wingspan: 24 to 28mm.
Larvae found: April to May, feeding on Eryngium species of plants, mainly Eryngium campestre, E. bourgatti and E. maritimum (Sea Holly)
Pupation takes place in a dark-brown pupa, which is inside a cocoon, which is spun on the low vegetation of the host plant; cocoon’s can also be found on the under-side of rocks
This Species is found mainly around the Mediterranean coastal countries of Southern Europe.
One Generation a year, (Univoltine).
Habitat: Scrubland, dry grasslands, mountain slopes and sunny fallow fields.