Zygaena exulans (Hohenwarth, 1792)


Zygaena exulans: Female (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, Austria, July 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, Austria, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Mating (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, Austria, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Mating (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Copula (Austria, Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Copula (Austria, Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Copula (Austria, Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Many males compete for a female (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, Austria, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male, Lüner See, W-Austria, early July 2011. [N] Zygaena exulans: Male [N] Zygaena exulans: Male [N] Zygaena exulans: Males (Austria, Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Males (Austria, Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Finland, SE of Kilpisjärvi, July 2020) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, July 2019) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, July 2019) [N] Zygaena exulans: Male (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, July 2019) [N] Zygaena exulans: Adult (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, July 2019) [N] Zygaena exulans: Adult (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, July 2019) [N] Zygaena exulans: Adult (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, July 2019) [N] Zygaena exulans: Adult (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, July 2019) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female (e.l. Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larva in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Female (e.l. Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larva in late May 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Female [N] Zygaena exulans: Worn female [N] Zygaena exulans: Batch of eggs on the lower leaf side of a creeping willow (Salix), Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, August 2009 [N] Zygaena exulans: Eggs (e.l. Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Eggs (e.l. Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Eggs (e.l. Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Already mostly hatched eggs (e.l. Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larvae L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larvae L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larvae L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L1 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 and L2 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L3 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L4 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L4 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L4 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L4 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L4 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L4 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Larva L4 (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larvae already hibernating under a stone (Switzerland, Umbrail, 03. September 2016) [M] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larva (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larva (e.l., F1-breeding, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larva feeding on Anthyllis. This larva still has to undergo one more hibernation (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, 18. June 2022) [N] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larva which still has to undergo one more hibernation (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, 18. June 2022) [N] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larva which still has to undergo one more hibernation (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, 18. June 2022) [N] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larva which still has to undergo one more hibernation (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, 18. June 2022) [N] Zygaena exulans: Half-grown larva [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva (northern Ticino, 2000m above sea level, May 2007) [M] Zygaena exulans: Larva [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar feeding on a willow bud (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva in the last instar feeding on a willow bud (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, late May 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Larva (Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße, Austrian Alps, August 2009) [N] Zygaena exulans: Larval aggregation on Helianthemum (Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, early June 2005) [N] Zygaena exulans: Cocoon sub a Stein (umgedreht) [M] Zygaena exulans: Cocoon, quite yellowish in comparison to those from the Alps (Finland, Kilpisjärvi, July 2020) [M] Zygaena exulans: Pupa, Cocoon removed (Finland, Kilpisjärvi, July 2020) [S] Zygaena exulans: Cocoon (e.l. rearing, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Cocoon (e.l. rearing, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Pupa, cocoon artificially opened (e.l. rearing, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Pupa, cocoon artificially opened (e.l. rearing, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Pupa, cocoon artificially opened (e.l. rearing, Switzerland, Valais, Täschalpe, larvae in late May 2023) [S] Zygaena exulans: Habitat (Finland, Kilpisjärvi, July 2020) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat at main larval time in May (northern Ticino, 2300m above sea level) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat (Switzerland, Ticino, Campolungo, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat (Switzerland, Grisons, Albula, July 2023) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat (W-Austria, Silvretta, 11. September 2010) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat at flight time (Valais, Switzerland) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat at the Großglockner-Hochalpenstraße (2300m above sea level) [N] Zygaena exulans: Habitat in the Valais (Täschalpe) in about 2250m above sea level [N]

Host plants:
The caterpillar feeds on a lot of alpine plants. Most often it is found on Fabaceae (Lotus alpinus), Cistaceae (Helianthemum) and on Salix sp.

Habitat:
Zygaena exulans colonizes alpine meadows and pastures above approximately 1700-1800m above sea level, but is largely absent in the German Alps. Zygaena exulans is often observed on stony and rocky slopes and broader stream embankments.

Life cycle:
In general the larvae require several winters prior to maturity. Zygaena exulans is often more common only in odd-numbered years (depending on locality and region). The flight time is in July and August, rarely already in late June. The adults usually show their black and hairy abdomen when feeding on flowers (to gather more sun warmth). Caterpillars are continuously found from the snowmelt in the first free spots until autumn. They overwinter under stones and in rock crevices, but also in the moss layer.

Endangerment factors:
Locally this species is threatened by tourist facilities like ski runs. But it is quite common especially in the Central and Southern Alps. In 2004, almost all Helianthemum pads have been strongly infested with caterpillars (up to 50 individuals on a square meter) on the Swiss Täschalpe (Valais) from 2200 to 2500m above sea level. Some of the low Salix bushes near the stream were even stripped bare.

Remarks:
The total distribution is restricted to the mountains (Pyrenees, Alps, Apennines, Carpathians, Scotland, southern Serbia, some Asian mountains) and the far north (Scandinavia).



Zygaena alluaudi | Zygaena angelicae | Zygaena anthyllidis | Zygaena brizae | Zygaena carniolica | Zygaena contaminei | Zygaena corsica | Zygaena cynarae | Zygaena diaphana | Zygaena ephialtes | Zygaena erythrus | Zygaena fausta | Zygaena filipendulae | Zygaena hilaris | Zygaena ignifera | Zygaena johannae | Zygaena laeta | Zygaena lavandulae | Zygaena lonicerae | Zygaena loti | Zygaena minos | Zygaena nevadensis | Zygaena occitanica | Zygaena orana | Zygaena osterodensis | Zygaena oxytropis | Zygaena punctum | Zygaena purpuralis | Zygaena rhadamanthus | Zygaena romeo | Zygaena rubicundus | Zygaena sarpedon | Zygaena sedi | Zygaena transalpina | Zygaena trifolii | Zygaena viciae