| Zygaenidae | ||||||||||
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 Zygaena trifolii, Five-spot Burnet moth | ||||||||||
| Scientific classification | ||||||||||
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| Genera | ||||||||||
| Zygaena and many others |
The Zygaenidae are a family of Lepidoptera typically day-flying with a slow fluttering flight, and with rather clubbed antennae. They generally have a metallic sheen and often prominent spots of red or yellow. The bright colours are a warning to predators that the moths are distasteful - they contain toxic substances throughout all stages of their life-cycle.
The family is moderately large with about 800 species described. Most of these are tropical but they are quite well represented in temperate regions. Various species are commonly known as Burnet or Forester moths, often qualified by the number of spots.
Pest species in the family include
- almond-tree leaf skeletonizer moth Aglaope infausta
- vine bud moth Theresimima ampellophaga
- grapeleaf skeletonizer Harrisina americana
The family name Zygaenidae is attributed to Latreille, 1809 and is formed from the genus name Zygaena Fabricius, 1775. The type species is the Six-Spot Burnet Moth Zygaena filipendulae.