New Forest burnet  (Zygaena viciae argyllensis)

Description

The New Forest Burnet was first discovered in 1869 in the New Forest (2). The endemicsubspecies (Zygaena viciae ytenensis) was last seen in 1927 and is now sadly extinct. The subspecies Zygaena viciae argyllensis, which is also endemic, was found in western Argyllshire in 1963. It is a striking crimson and red moth, that differs to Z. v. ytenensis in that it has broader and darker forewings and a thicker border on the hindwings. Furthermore, the thorax and abdomen are more hairy (4). The caterpillars are grass-green in colour, with small yellow flecks and black dots along the sides (2).

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