Zygaenidae

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.