Zygaena ephialtes (Linnaeus, 1767)


Zygaena ephialtes: Male (e.l. Tyrol, Fliess near Landeck, larva in May 2014) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (e.l. Tyrol, Fliess near Landeck, larva in May 2014) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, late July 2011) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, late July 2011) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, late July 2011) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany, late July 2011) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2023) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2023) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, 21. July 2019) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, 21. July 2019) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, 21. July 2019) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, 21. July 2019) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Copulation (S-Germany, Memmingen, 21. July 2019) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Copulation (S-Germany, Memmingen, 21. July 2019) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Copulation (S-Germany, Memmingen, 21. July 2019) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Copulation (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Copulation (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Copulation (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (W-Greece, Lefkada, early June 2021) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (W-Greece, Lefkada, early June 2021) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (W-Greece, Lefkada, early June 2021) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Olympus, Greece, July 2010) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Olympus) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Olympus) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Olympus) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Olympus, 2010) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Olympus) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Olympus, Greece) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (e.o., N-Greece, Mount Pangeon, 2007) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (e.o., N-Greece, Mount Pangeon, 2007) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (e.o., N-Greece, Mount Pangeon, 2007) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Samos, NW-coast, May 2014) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Greece, Samos Island, NW-coast, May 2014) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Greece, Samos Island, NW-coast, May 2014) [M] Zygaena ephialtes: Adult (Smolikas, N-Greece) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (N-Greece, Mount Smolikas, 29. June 2013) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (N-Greece, Mount Smolikas, 29. June 2013) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (N-Greece, Mount Smolikas, 29. June 2013) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Male (N-Greece, Mount Smolikas, 29. June 2013) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-France, Ardèche, June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-France, Ardèche, June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Female (S-France, Ardèche, June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Oviposition (S-Germany, Memmingen, 11. July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (S-Germany, Memmingen, 11. July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (S-Germany, Memmingen, 09. July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (S-Germany, Memmingen, 09. July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (S-Germany, Memmingen, 04. July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (S-Germany, Memmingen, 05. July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (S-Germany, Memmingen, 05. July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (S-France, Ardèche, 12. June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Eggs (Greece, Mount Olympus, 20. July 2009) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L1 (e.o., S-France, Ardèche, Ruoms, oviposition in June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L1 (e.o., S-France, Ardèche, Ruoms, oviposition in June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L1 (e.o., S-France, Ardèche, Ruoms, oviposition in June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L1 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L1 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L1 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L1 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L2 (e.o., S-France, Ardèche, Ruoms, oviposition in June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L2 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L2 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L2 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L2 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-France, Ardèche, Ruoms, oviposition in June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva L3 (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the diapause skin L4D in first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the diapause skin L4D in first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the diapause skin L4D in first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the second diapause in the second hibernation (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the second post-diapause instar (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the second post-diapause instar (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the second post-diapause instar (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the second post-diapause instar (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the second post-diapause instar (e.o., S-Germany, Memmingen, oviposition in July 2022) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the penultimate instar (S-Germany, Memmingen, 20. May 2023) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the penultimate instar (S-Germany, Memmingen, 20. May 2023) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the penultimate instar (e.o., N-Greece, Mount Pangeon, 2007) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the penultimate instar (e.o., N-Greece, Mount Pangeon, 2007) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the ultimate instar (e.o., N-Greece, Mount Pangeon, 2007) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the ultimate instar (e.o., N-Greece, Mount Pangeon, 2007) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (Tyrol, Fliess near Landeck, May 2014) [M] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (Tyrol, Fliess near Landeck, May 2014) [M] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (Tyrol, Fliess near Landeck, May 2014) [M] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (Tyrol, Fliess near Landeck, May 2014) [M] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (S-Germany, Memmingen, 03. June 2020) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (S-Germany, Memmingen, 03. June 2020) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (S-Germany, Memmingen, 05. June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (S-Germany, Memmingen, 05. June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (S-Germany, Memmingen, 05. June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva (S-Germany, Memmingen, 05. June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon (e.l. Fliess 2014) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon (e.o. Olympus, Greece) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon (S-Germany, Memmingen, 18. June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon (S-Germany, Memmingen, 18. June 2023) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon opened (S-Germany, Memmingen, June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon opened (S-Germany, Memmingen, June 2023) [S] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon on a house wall (S-Germany, Memmingen, 18. June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Cocoon on a rain drainage (S-Germany, Memmingen, June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Empty cocoon on a rain drainage (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat in a limestone grassland (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, June 2011) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat in a limestone grassland (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat in a limestone grassland (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, June 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat in a limestone grassland at the woodland edge (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, July 2009) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat at Mount Olympus [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat with steep, grove-rich limestone slopes on Mount Olympus in Thessaly (Greece, 22. July 2010) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in the habitat (Fliess, Tyrol, May 2014) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larva in its habitat (Austria, Fliess, Tyrol, May 2014) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larval habitat near Fliess, Tyrol, May 2014 [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Larval habitat near Fliess, Tyrol, May 2014 [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat (Greece, Lefkada, June 2021) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat in a garden meadow that is only mown once in early autumn. Here Coronilla varia grows especially along the drier path. Since about 2010 there is a sometimes quite abundant population that has settled naturally (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N] Zygaena ephialtes: Habitat in a garden meadow that is only mown once in early autumn. Here Coronilla varia grows especially along the drier path. Since about 2010 there is a sometimes quite abundant population that has settled naturally (S-Germany, Memmingen, July 2022) [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillars live almost exclusively on Coronilla varia (= Securigera varia), in the south also often on Coronilla emerus (= Hippocrepis emerus). In rearing Greek caterpillars easily accepted also Hippocrepis comosa.

Habitat:
Zygaena ephialtes colonizes in general habitats similar to the Geranion sanguinei: higher growing, dry and warm edges in nutrient-poor grasslands or steppe-like, bushy slopes with the larval host plant. Other habitats include abandoned vineyards, ruderal terrain, railway embankments, forest edges, broad and dry field or roadsides verges. The latter habitats are nowadays only in rare cases still suitable due to frequent mowing, integration into adjacent agricultural areas and intense planting of trees.

Life cycle:
The caterpillar is mature in June. The moths fly between late June and August with peak in the second half of July. North of the Alps they are found mostly singly or in low numbers. In Greece (e.g. on Mount Olympus between 500 and 2100m above sea level) they can occur in high abundances.

Endangerment: regionally endangered or decreasing

Endangerment factors:
Partial there is a significant risk of overgrowth (succession), housing development (grasslands, ruderal terrain), intensification (agriculture) and improper maintenance of grasslands (grazing pens).

Remarks:
Zygaena ephialtes is famous by its phenotypic variability from red over yellow to white. But in Central Europe almost only red spotted individuals occur.
The distribution ranges from Spain (extremely rare and local) to the Urals and to Anatolia.
Zygaena ephialtes misses in Northern Europe and is most common in Southeastern Europe, where some more species that are bound to Coronilla varia reach their maximum in abundance, such as Polyommatus daphnis.



Zygaena alluaudi | Zygaena angelicae | Zygaena anthyllidis | Zygaena brizae | Zygaena carniolica | Zygaena contaminei | Zygaena corsica | Zygaena cynarae | Zygaena diaphana | Zygaena erythrus | Zygaena exulans | Zygaena fausta | Zygaena filipendulae | Zygaena hilaris | Zygaena ignifera | Zygaena johannae | Zygaena laeta | Zygaena lavandulae | Zygaena lonicerae | Zygaena loti | Zygaena minos | Zygaena nevadensis | Zygaena occitanica | Zygaena orana | Zygaena osterodensis | Zygaena oxytropis | Zygaena punctum | Zygaena purpuralis | Zygaena rhadamanthus | Zygaena romeo | Zygaena rubicundus | Zygaena sarpedon | Zygaena sedi | Zygaena transalpina | Zygaena trifolii | Zygaena viciae