antenna is thinner and the central wedge-spot of the somewhat broader forewing extends to near the distal edge. — In ab. interrupta Stgr. [synonym for Zygaena minos ssp. pimpinellae ] the central streak is broadly interrupted and the posterior one often constricted in middle; more in the North of the area, among the name-typical form. — If all three streaks are interrupted, the red is separated into 6 spots, recalling the pattern of other Zygaenas; this form is ab. sexmaculata Burgeff. — Finally, there occur also specimens which have a red abdominal belt: ab. cingulata Burgeff — Larva bluish white or light yellow; a subdorsal row of heavy black dots; head, pectoral legs and stigmata black. Biology Adult moths are on wing from late May until August, depending on location. They fly during the day, especially with warm and sunny weather, feeding on nectar of various flowers. The larvae feed on wild thyme (Thymus polytrichus, Thymus serpyllum, etc.). They occur from August to May and overwinter once or twice. Distribution This species can be is found in most of western, central and southern Europe, from Ireland to France through to Asia Minor, the Caucasus, Russia and across the Palearctic to the Altai Mountains. Habitat Zygaena purpuralis prefers sunny and grassy slopes, under cliffs and dry grassland. Subspecies There are several distinct sub-species: Zygaena purpuralis purpuralis Zygaena purpuralis austronubigena Verity 1946 Zygaena purpuralis caledonensis Reiss, 1931 (Hebridean islands of Skye, Lismore, Kerrera, Mull, Ulva, Eigg, Canna, and Rùm and in a few localities on the Scottish mainland in Kintyre and parts of western Argyllshire) Zygaena purpuralis dojranica Burgeff, 1926 Zygaena purpuralis fiorii Costantini, 1916 Zygaena purpuralis isarca Verity, 1922 Zygaena purpuralis lathyri Boisduval, 1828 Zygaena purpuralis magnalpina Verity, 1922 Zygaena purpuralis mirabilis Verity, 1922 Zygaena purpuralis nubigena Lederer, 1853 Zygaena purpuralis sabulosa Tremewan, 1976 (western Ireland in the Burren, Counties Galway and Mayo and on Inishmore, in the Aran Islands) Zygaena purpuralis segontii Tremewan, 1958 (occurred on sea-cliffs of the Llŷn Peninsula, Caernarvonshire. It has not been reported since 1962 and might be extinct) References External links Transparent burnet on UKmoths Butterfly Conservation Fauna Europaea Lepiforum.de Schmetterling-raupe.de Zygaena Moths of Europe Moths of Asia Moths described in 1763 Taxa named by Morten Thrane Brünnich