Arctic Ringlet vs Map Butterfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arctic Ringlet Map Butterfly
Scientific Name Erebia disa Araschnia levana
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Nymphalidae
Size 34-42 mm wingspan 32-40 mm wingspan
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Rivers & Streams
Diet Nectar Feeders Omnivores
Regions Scandinavia, Siberia, Northern North America Europe, temperate Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arctic Ringlet

A dark brown ringlet butterfly of arctic and alpine bogs. It flies low over sedge tussocks in a slow, bobbing flight pattern.

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Did You Know?

It has a two-year life cycle in the Arctic, with larvae overwintering twice.

Map Butterfly

A small butterfly that produces two dramatically different seasonal forms within the same year. Spring adults are orange with black spots; summer adults are black with white bands.

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Did You Know?

The seasonal colour change is triggered by day length during the larval stage, not temperature.