The six-spot burnet (Zygaena filipendulae) is a day-flying moth of the family Zygaenidae, recognised by its dark metallic green forewings each bearing six vivid crimson spots and bright red hindwings. It ranges across most of Europe and into western Asia (Anatolia, the Caucasus, Syria, and Lebanon), frequenting flower-rich grasslands, downland, cliff-edges, and woodland rides. Larvae feed primarily on bird's-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) and sequester cyanogenic glucosides from their host plants, making all life stages chemically defended and highly toxic to predators. Adults nectar conspicuously in sunshine on knapweeds, thistles, scabious, and related wildflowers, making them a conspicuous visitor wherever larval foodplants and open flowering habitat coexist.

Nectar plants · 1

Common throughout Europe except the Atlantic coast of the Iberian Peninsula, northern Scandinavia, and the far north of Russia. Also present in western Asia from Anatolia through the Caucasus to Syria and Lebanon. Within Britain it occurs from coastal grassland to inland chalk downland, with a coastal bias in northern areas. Flight period June to August.