Alpine Grizzled Skipper vs Mason Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Alpine Grizzled Skipper Mason Wasp
Scientific Name Pyrgus andromedae Ancistrocerus nigricornis
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Hesperiidae Vespidae
Size 22-28 mm wingspan 10-14 mm
Habitat Mountains Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Alps, Scandinavia Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Alpine Grizzled Skipper

A small, dark skipper butterfly with white checkered markings. It flies low over alpine turf in quick, darting flights.

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Did You Know?

Its rapid, erratic flight makes it one of the most difficult alpine butterflies to observe.

Mason Wasp

A small black and yellow solitary wasp that nests in pre-existing holes and hollow stems. It provisions each cell with paralyzed moth caterpillars.

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Did You Know?

It readily uses artificial bee hotels, making it one of the easiest solitary wasps to attract to gardens.