Zeuzera pyrina (Linn.) Leopard Moth
p55. Resident, widespread and locally common.
Cossus cossus (Linn.) Goat Moth
p55. Resident, formerly widespread, now local and extremely scarce.
ZYGAENIDAE
Burnets and foresters are small to medium-sized day-flying moths with metallic colours. They drink
frequently, mainly from composite type flowers. The antennae of burnet moths are clubbed
(resembling butterflies in this respect). Burnets and foresters have a well-developed frenulum on the
hindwing and the wings beat quickly, although the flight is slow and buzzing. The larvae are short,
stout and slightly hairy. Each species is monophagous or oligophagous (that is restricted to one, or a
few related, species of foodplant) on broad-leaved plants of open grasslands. The larval stage
overwinters. The burnet moth larva spins a papery cocoon, usually on grass-stems, and the active
pupa breaks through the cocoon immediately before the moth emerges. Four of the nine British
species have been recorded in Essex although two of these are probably now extinct in the
county.
Adscita statices (Linn.) (Procris statices) The Forester
p53. ?Resident, very local and rare; no record since 1971 (see Guide).
Zygaena filipendulae Linn. Six-spot Burnet
p53. Resident, widespread and locally common.
Zygaena trifolii (Esp.) Five-spot Burnet
p5 2. Formerly local or very local resident; now probably extinct. Tremewan (1980) has stated that
subspecies decreta Verity is, in all probability, extinct in S.E.England. He lists records (including two
Essex ones) based on specimens in the BMNH collections, but has mostly disregarded those from the
literature "'because of the difficulty which many lepidopterists have in distinguishing trifolii from Z.
lonicerae (Scheven) ".The Essex records are: 49 Epping, undated and 58 Rainham, 1922. All other
Essex records (including those given in the Guide) should be regarded as unconfirmed. Subspecies
palustrella Verity has never been recorded from Essex.
Zygaena lonicerae (Schev.) Narrow-bordered Five-spot Burnet
p53. Resident, widespread and locally common. The Guide described this species as local, but it
has since been recorded in a number of additional localities and is clearly extending its range
(Tremewan, 1980).
LIMACODIDAE
A family with only two British species both of which have been found in Essex although only one is
now resident. These small day-flying moths lack a haustellum. The slug-like larvae feed on the leaves
of oak (and a few other species of tree in the case of the triangle). The larva spins a cocoon on a leaf but
delays becoming a pupa until winter is over.
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