Zygaena ephialtes  Zygaena ephialtes is day flying species of burnet moth found in Europe. It is typically found in xeric habitats, and populations have recently decreased. It also exhibits Müllerian mimicry with other species, like "Amata phegea". "Z. ephialtes" typically fly during the day. Adult butterfly flight is often characterized as slow. As characteristic of Zygaenidae moths, they have prominent spots on their wings, which alerts predators that they contain toxins. "Z. ephialtes" L. (= "falcatae" Boisd.) (5 i, k). Forewing with 6 spots; the basal pair red, the others white; hindwing with a white dot. Abdomen with red belt. From South Germany and Switzerland, eastwards to Greece and South Siberia. — "medusa" Pall. [ now "Z. ephialtes" ssp. "medusa" Pallas, 1771] (5 k) is the form without the 6. spot: being especially frequent in the eastern districts of the area. — In the west of the area, especially in Northern Italy, South Germany, Austria, and also in some of the Balcan States, there occur two forms which are marked like "ephialtes" resp. "medusa", but have the 2 basal spots of the forewing and the abdominal belt deep yellow instead of red; these forms are "coronillae" Esp.[ now "Z. ephialtes" ssp. "coronillae" [Denis & Schiffermüller] ], (6a) with 6 spots, and "trigonellae" Esp. [ now "Z. ephialtes" ssp. "coronillae" [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 ] (6a) with 5 spots. — Likewise in Austria there occur, often together with other forms at the same places, two varieties in which the spots of the forewing as well as the whole hindwing except the black margin are yellow; these are "icterica" Led. [now "Z. ephialtes" ssp. "coronillae" [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 ] (6 a) with 6 spots, and "aeacus" Esp. [now "Z. ephialtes" ssp. "coronillae" [Denis & Schiffermüller], 1775 ] (6 b) with 5 spots on the forewing.