Dingy Arctic Fritillary vs Common Windmill

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dingy Arctic Fritillary Common Windmill
Scientific Name Boloria improba Byasa polyeuctes
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Papilionidae
Size 26-32 mm wingspan Wingspan 80-100 mm
Habitat Tundra & Arctic Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Arctic Scandinavia, Svalbard, Arctic Russia, Alaska, Canadian Arctic China, India, Nepal, Myanmar
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Dingy Arctic Fritillary

One of the smallest Arctic fritillaries with dull orange-brown wings and dark markings. The underside is mottled brown and gray with a mossy, cryptic appearance. It has a weak, fluttering flight close to the ground.

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Did You Know?

This butterfly is so rare and localized that some populations consist of fewer than 100 individuals on isolated mountain summits.

Common Windmill

A black swallowtail with red body spots and white-patched hindwings that flutter in a distinctive windmill pattern. It flies slowly and confidently due to its toxicity.

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Did You Know?

Its slow, meandering flight advertises its toxic body chemistry to potential predators.