Large Tortoiseshell vs Texas Stygobiontic Diving Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Large Tortoiseshell | Texas Stygobiontic Diving Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Nymphalis polychloros | Psychopomporus felipi |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Dytiscidae |
| Size | 54-65 mm wingspan | 1.5-2 mm |
| Habitat | Orchards | Indoors |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, temperate Asia | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern (extinct in Britain) | Data Deficient |
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.
Texas Stygobiontic Diving Beetle
A groundwater-dwelling diving beetle from the Edwards-Trinity Aquifer in Texas. It was the first stygobiontic diving beetle described from North America.
Did You Know?
Its genus name means 'guide of the dead,' referencing its underworld habitat.