Six-spot Burnet

• It makes cyanide: it stores cyanogenic glycosides obtained from its food plant and which it can also synthesise itself, and releases a droplet smelling of bitter almonds if it is squeezed.
• Its red and black colouring is a classic warning, and several harmless species mimic its appearance to take advantage of that protection.
• The female chooses a mate partly by how much cyanide the male transfers with his sperm, which she then passes on to the eggs.
• It manufactures cyanide. It synthesises cyanogenic glucosides and stores them in its body; when attacked it releases hydrogen cyanide, which makes it toxic to almost any predator.
• And it advertises the fact: its black wings with six bright red spots are a classic aposematic warning, and several harmless species mimic it.
• It can obtain the cyanide in two ways: by synthesising it itself or by sequestering it from the bird's-foot trefoil it eats. It is one of the few animals capable of both.
• The cyanide also plays a part in courtship: the male offers the female a nuptial gift loaded with these compounds, which she incorporates into her eggs to protect them.
• It flies by day, slowly and heavily, with no need to flee from anyone: its toxicity protects it better than speed would.

Skeleton type

Invertebrate - chitin exoskeleton (insect)

Habitat & environment

Flowery meadows, banks and grassy slopes of Europe

Sources consulted: Zagrobelny et al. (2007 y 2014), Insect Biochemistry and Molecular Biology; Butterfly Conservation

Best time: From June to August, on thistles and scabious in meadows