Arctic Ringlet vs Spiny Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Arctic Ringlet | Spiny Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Erebia disa | Polyrhachis dives |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 34-42 mm wingspan | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Forests |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Scandinavia, Siberia, Northern North America | Southeast Asia, southern China, India |
| 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.
Did You Know?
It has a two-year life cycle in the Arctic, with larvae overwintering twice.
Spiny Ant
A distinctive Asian ant with paired spines on the petiole and propodeum. Workers are metallic dark brown and build nests from silk produced by larvae, similar to weaver ants. Colonies are arboreal and highly territorial.
Did You Know?
They are commonly eaten as a protein-rich food in parts of southern China, where they are harvested from silk nests in trees.