Zygaena viciae (Denis & Schiffermüller, 1775)


Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, July 2009) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, July 2009) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, July 2009) Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, July 2009) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Herbrechtingen, 04. July 1998) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adults, the females occasionally show a small or even larger sixth spot (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, July 2008) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, 17. July 2020) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, 17. July 2020) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, 17. July 2020) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, 17. July 2020) [N] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, late June 2022) [N] Zygaena viciae: Female (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, late June 2022) [N] Zygaena viciae: Female (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, late June 2022) [N] Zygaena viciae: Female, also in central Europe a part of the adults show incomplete red cingula. In other regions a complete cingulum may be standard, also six-spotted forms (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, late June 2022) [M] Zygaena viciae: Copulation (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, July 2010) [N] Zygaena viciae: Copulation (Austria, Carinthia, Rinkolach, 24. June 2018) [N] Zygaena viciae: Copulation (Austria, Carinthia, Rinkolach, 24. June 2018) [N] Zygaena viciae: Female (N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, late June 2023) [M] Zygaena viciae: Female (N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, late June 2023) [M] Zygaena viciae: Female (N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, late June 2023) [M] Zygaena viciae: Female (N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, late June 2023) [M] Zygaena viciae: Female (N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, late June 2023) [M] Zygaena viciae: Adult with almost confluent spots (Sweden, Hallstavik, 09. July 2020) [N] Zygaena viciae: Freshly emerged adult [S] Zygaena viciae: Freshly emerged adult [S] Zygaena viciae: Freshly emerged adult [S] Zygaena viciae: Adult (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, July 2009) [S] Zygaena viciae: Oviposition on Vicia that climbs in a Ostrya bush (N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, late June 2023) [N] Zygaena viciae: Eggs on the lower side of a Vicia leaf (N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, late June 2023) [M] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Eggs (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Hatching larvae (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Hatching larvae (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Hatching larvae (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Hatching larvae (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Hatching larvae (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L1 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larvae L1 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larvae L1 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larvae L1 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L1 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L1 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larvae L1 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L2 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. N-Greece, Mount Pangeo, oviposition in late June 2023) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L3 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L4 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva L4 (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in first hibernation(e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in spring still in the diapause skin but ready to moult  (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva after moult out of the diapause skin (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva after moult out of the diapause skin (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the first post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the second post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in the second post-diapause instar after the first hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, district of Heidenheim, 12. May 2013) [N] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, district of Heidenheim, 12. May 2013) [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in a second hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Larva in diapause skin in a second hibernation (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva (e.o. S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, oviposition in late June 2022) [S] Zygaena viciae: Half-grown larva in the penultimate instar (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, district of Heidenheim, 27. May 2013) [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva in penultimate instar [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva [M] Zygaena viciae: Larva [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, 05. June 2009) [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, 12. June 2013) [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, Heidenheim/Brenz, 12. June 2013) [N] Zygaena viciae: Larva (Greece, Peloponnese, Kalavryta, 21. May 2017) [N] Zygaena viciae: Cocoon [S] Zygaena viciae: Cocoon [S] Zygaena viciae: Habitat in a limestone grassland with Onobrychis and Vicia cracca where also Zygaena loti occurs [N] Zygaena viciae: Habitat in a humid woodland with Lathyrus pratensis where also Zygaena lonicerae, Zygaena osterodensis and Coenonympha hero fly (eastern Swabian Alb, Southern Germany). [N] Zygaena viciae: Habitat (Greece, Peloponnese, Kalavryta, 21. May 2017) [N] Zygaena viciae: Habitat in a higher-growing and less dry edge of a limestone grassland (S-Germany, eastern Swabian Alb, late June 2022) [N] Zygaena viciae: Habitat in open warm-humid woodland with Z. osterodensis (Austria, Carinthia, Rinkolach, 24. June 2018) [N] Zygaena viciae: Habitat (Sweden, Hallstavik, 09. July 2020) [N]

Host plants:
The species feeds oligophagously on Fabaceae. In decreasing importance following species are of importance: Lathyrus pratensis, Vicia cracca, Lotus corniculatus, Onobrychis, Trifolium medium, Trifolium montanum etc., rarely Medicago sp.

Habitat:
Zygaena viciae colonizes limestone grasslands, fens, broad forest edges, sometimes ruderal areas and (more nostalgic) also extensive, mesophilic meadows that are only cut once per year. It occurs only singly in xerothermic, nutrient-poor and grazed calcareous grasslands, but may also be very common in more mesophilic, higher growing variants.

Life cycle:
Zygaena viciae has a medium-late flight time especially in July (from late June to mid-August). Fully-grown caterpillars are found from late May to June.

Endangerment factors:
As with Zygaena filipendulae, but Zygaena viciae reacts more sensitively to habitat changes.

Remarks:
The total distribution extends from northern Spain to Mongolia.



Zygaena alluaudi | Zygaena angelicae | Zygaena anthyllidis | Zygaena brizae | Zygaena carniolica | Zygaena contaminei | Zygaena corsica | Zygaena cynarae | Zygaena diaphana | Zygaena ephialtes | 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