The Zygaenidae family - has about 1000 known species worldwide which are put into 3 sub-families (Zygaeninae, Procridinae and Chalcosiinae). Zygaeninae is known as the "real" Burnets with red blood-like spots on the forewings. The red colour is a warning for birds and other prey not to eat this Moth. Not all species have a defense mechanism, those who have are using Prussic acid.

Members of the sub-family Zygaeninae are not easy to determine, some of the species can only be reliable determined using genitalia preparation.

In Mid-Europe the Procridinae sub-family only counts about 7 species. That should make the task easier one might think, but they all look very similar and a reliable determination is only possible thru genitalia preparation.