Gatekeeper vs Seven-spotted Green Lacewing

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Gatekeeper Seven-spotted Green Lacewing
Scientific Name Pyronia tithonus Chrysopa septempunctata
Order Lepidoptera Neuroptera
Family Nymphalidae Chrysopidae
Size 34-38 mm wingspan 14-18 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Western Europe, Southern Europe Europe, Central Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Gatekeeper

A common warm-brown butterfly often seen basking on hedgerow flowers in high summer. It has distinctive twin white pupils within the eye-spots on its forewings.

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Did You Know?

Its alternative name 'Hedge Brown' reflects its strong association with hedgerow habitats.

Seven-spotted Green Lacewing

A green lacewing marked with seven dark spots on its head. Common across Europe and temperate Asia in vegetated habitats.

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Did You Know?

The seven head spots are used to distinguish it from over a dozen similar European species.