Arctic Fritillary vs Great Banded Grayling

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Fritillary Great Banded Grayling
Scientific Name Boloria chariclea Brintesia circe
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Nymphalidae
Size 28-36 mm wingspan 60-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Heathland
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Arctic North America, Scandinavia, Siberia Southern and central Europe, western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Fritillary

A small, orange-brown fritillary butterfly of arctic and alpine tundra. Its underside has distinctive silvery-white markings.

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Did You Know?

It can complete its life cycle in the brief two-month arctic summer.

Great Banded Grayling

A large brown butterfly with a prominent white band across the hindwing underside, resembling a tree-trunk fragment. It settles on tree bark and rocks, becoming almost invisible.

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Did You Know?

When it lands on a tree trunk, it tilts to eliminate its shadow, perfecting its bark-like camouflage.