Zygaena diaphana (Brünnich, 1763) is a cryptic taxon that has been misidentified in Hungary (Lepidoptera: Zygaenidae)

The author has reviewed recently published specimens under the name Zygaena diaphana in Hungary. He concludes that the identification is incorrect. All specimens belong to the species Zygaena purpuralis. He discusses the reasons for the misidentification. Historical analysis of Hungarian and international research on the species-complex of Zygaena purpuralis-minos-diaphana. In his opinion, questions of taxonomy, bionomics and geographical distribution of the species-complex are problematic in many respects and not well understood. The paper is illustrated with habitus images, genitalia diagrams and maps.