Zygaena lavandulae is a species of moth in the family Zygaenidae.
Subspecies include:[1] [2]
This species can be found in Southern France, eastern Spain, Portugal and Italy (only in central and western Liguria),[3] as well as North Africa, including Morocco.[4]
Zygaena lavandulae has a wingspan of 31- in males and of 35- in females. The head is black. The thorax is black with a white collar. Also the abdomen is black, with a slight blue gloss. Forewings are bluish, with five red spots surrounded with black or dark blue. Hindwings are bluish-black with a very large distal red spot. Colorations of the females are rather similar to males, but their forewings are usually bluish-green, with larger spots.[5]
These moths mainly inhabit rocky places, dry woods and grove rich grasslands.[6] They are present in the Maquis shrubland, characterized by the widespread presence of Cistus species.
There is one generation per year (univoltine). The larvae feed on Dorycnium pentaphyllum[6] and Anthyllis cytisoides.[7] They develop until April without real dormancy.[6] Adults are on wing from April to June.[6]