Malagasy Paper Wasp vs Glanville Fritillary
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Malagasy Paper Wasp | Glanville Fritillary |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polistes olivaceus | Melitaea cinxia |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Vespidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 15-20 mm | 33-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Madagascar | Europe, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (rare in Britain) |
Malagasy Paper Wasp
A slender wasp with an olive-brown body, long dangling legs, and narrow waist. It builds small, exposed paper nests from chewed plant fibers on the underside of leaves and eaves.
Did You Know?
Females establish dominance hierarchies on the nest, with the queen maintaining her rank through aggressive posturing and antenna drumming.
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.