Six-spot Burnet vs Yellow-legged Aleocharine
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Six-spot Burnet | Yellow-legged Aleocharine |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Zygaena filipendulae | Aleochara curtula |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Zygaenidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm wingspan | 5-8 mm |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia | Europe, Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Six-spot Burnet
A day-flying moth with metallic blue-black forewings bearing six crimson spots. Its bright colours warn predators of its cyanide-based chemical defences.
Did You Know?
Both the larvae and adults contain hydrogen cyanide, making them highly toxic to predators.
Yellow-legged Aleocharine
A medium-sized aleocharine rove beetle whose larvae are parasitoids of fly pupae, a rare strategy among beetles. Adults are predators at carrion and dung where they also lay eggs.
Did You Know?
The larva enters a fly pupa, consumes the developing fly inside, and completes its own metamorphosis within the empty puparium.