Map Butterfly vs Doris Longwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Map Butterfly | Doris Longwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Araschnia levana | Heliconius doris |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 32-40 mm wingspan | 65-80 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia | South America (Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Map Butterfly
A small butterfly that produces two dramatically different seasonal forms within the same year. Spring adults are orange with black spots; summer adults are black with white bands.
Did You Know?
The seasonal colour change is triggered by day length during the larval stage, not temperature.
Doris Longwing
A highly variable Heliconius butterfly that occurs in multiple color forms including blue, red, and green morphs. All forms share the same basic wing shape but differ dramatically in color pattern. It inhabits the understory of dense tropical forests.
Did You Know?
A single population can contain blue, red, and green color morphs, all controlled by a single genetic switch, making it a model for studying wing pattern evolution.