In spring the Lathyrus vernus (spring pea, bitter vetch, spring vetchling) provides a compact display at the front of a garden border. This clump-forming herbaceous perennial is a European native producing these purple flowers that age to a greenish-blue.
This moth species, Zygaena osterodensis, does range in continental Europe and are found in deciduous forests, as the game notes. In addition, it appears the game is also correct to call them “rare,” as I believe they are very endangered and growing increasingly rare. This is due to pollution, deforestation, and other factors.
The caterpillars feed mainly on tufted vetch (Vicia cracca) and spring vetch (Lathyrus vernus), wildflowers that look similar to pea plants. They hibernate over winter and finish growing around May, immerging as adults in the summer, feeding on the flowers of their host plants during the day.
This species belongs to the family Zygaenidae, which is an interesting family of moths. You may recall one of the ways to distinguish butterflies from moths are their antennae: butterflies have clubbed antennae, moths have feathery antennae. However, some moths break this rule, with Zygaenidae being a family with antennae that, while not entirely clubbed, look kind of clubbed. (some species look even moreso)
Zygaenidae also are poisonous (hydrogen cyanide in particular) to deter predators, which is advertised with their bright colors. These toxins can be derived from the plants they eat but they also can be manufactered directly by the moth.
Want more moths? Check out my Flutter Starlight master post!
proljetna graholika by mdunisk proljetna graholika (lathyrus vernus) proljetna kukavičica je trajna zeljasta biljka iz porodice mahunarki i raste pojedinačno i u grmovima listovi su uski i ovalni te šiljati na van i na plojki lista od petiljke do vrha lista je vidljiv utor, te plavo-ljubičastim pognutim cvjetovima graška, cvat je na vrhu stabljike u obliku grozda, cvjeta 3-5 mjesec, a plod je mahuna... www.flickr.com/photos/mdunisk/albums/72157651154628255 https://flic.kr/p/2eidpaN