Indian Tortoiseshell vs Mountain Ash Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Indian Tortoiseshell | Mountain Ash Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aglais caschmirensis | Pristiphora geniculata |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Tenthredinidae |
| Size | 55-65 mm wingspan | 5-7 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Mountains |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | South Asia (India, Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan, Himalayan region) | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Indian Tortoiseshell
A beautiful butterfly with rich orange-brown wings edged with blue spots and irregular dark markings. It is found in the Himalayan highlands and is closely related to the European tortoiseshell butterflies.
Did You Know?
This butterfly can survive at elevations over 4000 meters in the Himalayas, basking on sun-warmed rocks to thermoregulate.
Mountain Ash Sawfly
A small blackish sawfly with pale legs whose green larvae can completely defoliate mountain ash (rowan) trees. Larvae have dark heads and feed gregariously.
Did You Know?
Introduced to North America in the early 1900s, it quickly became the most damaging pest of ornamental mountain ash trees across the continent.