Alpine Grizzled Skipper vs Phasia Tachinid

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Alpine Grizzled Skipper Phasia Tachinid
Scientific Name Pyrgus andromedae Phasia hemiptera
Order Lepidoptera Diptera
Family Hesperiidae Tachinidae
Size 22-28 mm wingspan 7-10 mm
Habitat Mountains Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Alps, Scandinavia Europe
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.

Phasia Tachinid

A parasitic fly with distinctive dark-tipped wings that parasitizes shieldbug species. Males have broader wings than females. Adults visit flowers for nectar.

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Did You Know?

Larvae develop inside living shieldbugs, eventually consuming and killing their hosts.