Freija Fritillary vs Large Tortoiseshell
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Freija Fritillary | Large Tortoiseshell |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boloria freija | Nymphalis polychloros |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm wingspan | 54-65 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Orchards |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Alaska, northern Canada, Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia | Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (extinct in Britain) |
Freija Fritillary
A medium-small fritillary with bright orange wings bearing black zigzag markings. The hindwing underside features a distinctive arrowhead pattern in white and brown. It has a rapid, low flight over tundra bogs.
Did You Know?
Named after the Norse goddess Freya, this butterfly is among the first to fly each spring in the boreal north.
Large Tortoiseshell
A large orange butterfly with dark spots resembling a scaled-up small tortoiseshell, once widespread in Britain but now effectively extinct there. It hibernates as an adult in tree hollows.
Did You Know?
Its decline in Britain is thought to be linked to Dutch elm disease destroying its primary food plant.