Glanville Fritillary vs Blue Morpho
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Glanville Fritillary | Blue Morpho |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melitaea cinxia | Morpho menelaus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 33-40 mm wingspan | 120-150 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Beaches & Coastal | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Fungus Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia | Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern (rare in Britain) | Least Concern |
Glanville Fritillary
An orange and black chequered butterfly confined in Britain to the Isle of Wight's coastal cliffs. It was named after Lady Eleanor Glanville, an eccentric 17th-century collector.
Did You Know?
Lady Glanville's relatives tried to have her will annulled, claiming only a lunatic would collect butterflies.
Blue Morpho
Renowned for its brilliant iridescent blue wings. The color is not from pigment but from microscopic scales that reflect light. Underwings are brown with eyespots.
Did You Know?
The blue morphos wings are not actually blue — their color comes from millions of nanoscale ridges that manipulate light through constructive interference.