Freija Fritillary vs Mealybug Destroyer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Freija Fritillary | Mealybug Destroyer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boloria freija | Cryptolaemus montrouzieri |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Coccinellidae |
| Size | 30-40 mm wingspan | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Alaska, northern Canada, Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia | Australia, Worldwide (introduced) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Mealybug Destroyer
A dark-colored Australian ladybird with an orange head, widely used as a biocontrol agent. Its larvae are covered in white waxy filaments that mimic their mealybug prey.
Did You Know?
Larvae are often mistaken for the very mealybugs they are consuming due to their waxy white coating.