Wingspan: 30-46 mm
The 5-spot Burnet Moth has five red blobs on each top wing (cf. 6-spot link below).
UK flight time: Jun-Jul
She is concealing her eggs in a blade of grass near larval food-plants clover and birdsfoot trefoil.
The black wings have a blue-green metallic sheen.
When the moth emerges from its pupa, the debris of the black chrysalis remains on the cocoon.
Burnet moths have a black, furry body, also iridescent blue-green
The five red spots on each top wing (5-spots without "Narrow-border" look similar, found in south and west)
The narrow black border on the red under-wing giving the moths their "Narrow-bordered" name
Burnet on sorrel: red spots on red spots
Sometimes the top two spots appear merged
The green iridescence
Male Burnet moths frequently stalk the cocoons for newly-emerged, virgin female partners.
Burnet moths on knapweed
Burnet moths on tufted vetch
Like most moths, Burnet moths' colours fade as they age.