Six-spot Burnet

Six-spot Burnet, Zygaena filipendulae stephensii.  High Elms Country Park, 2 August 2012.

This is a day-flying moth that many people take for a butterfly, and one can see why.  It's brightly coloured.  The antennae are neither feathery not whip-like, as moth antennae usually are, and are not far from some butterfly types.  It flies areound in the day and feeds from the same flowers that butterflies like.

Six-spot Burnet, Zygaena filipendulae stephensii, in flight. High Elms Country Park, 2 August 2012.

This one is probably a male, searching for unmated females.  It zoomed around for as long as I watched it without stopping to feed.  Others were happily perched on flowers, mostly Common Knapweed, sticking their probosces deep into the florets.

Six-spot Burnet, Zygaena filipendulae stephensii.  High Elms Country Park, 2 August 2012.

This one has been feeding - I have the photos - but now has curled its proboscis twice around a single floret of Knapweed.  I have no idea why it is doing this.

Interesting, though .. that proboscis is more maneuverable than I thought.  And look at those matt black eyes!