Zygaenidae is a family of moths known as burnet or forester moths, sometimes further distinguished by spot count, or as smoky moths, comprising approximately 1,000 species found mainly in the tropics but well represented in temperate regions too. They fly during the day with a slow, fluttering pattern, have clubbed antennae, and often show a metallic sheen marked with red or yellow spots that warn predators of their toxicity, since zygaenids accumulate hydrogen cyanide throughout their life cycle, either obtaining cyanogenic compounds from host plants or synthesizing the toxin themselves. Larvae are typically stout and sometimes flattened, and in some subfamilies have specialized cavities for storing the cyanide compounds; the combination of toxicity and bright warning coloration makes the family part of several mimicry complexes with other insects. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
Living or Extinct Taxonomic Rank Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source Wikidata: Zygaena Fausta
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Australia, found in there.
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ156847, descriptionView the Source 2. Zygaenidae (Wikipedia)
Introduction
The Zygaenidae moths are a family of Lepidoptera.
- Taxonomic rank (structure-wave classification, ruling 761/926)
View the SourceWikidata: Zygaenidae
Wikidata Q156847, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Wikidata: Zygaena Fausta
Parent Taxon Of: Zygaena Fausta, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chainView the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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