Map Butterfly vs Silver Y
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Map Butterfly | Silver Y |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Araschnia levana | Autographa gamma |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Noctuidae |
| Size | 32-40 mm wingspan | 35-45 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, temperate Asia | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| 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.
Silver Y
A migratory moth marked with a bright silvery Y or gamma symbol on each forewing. Billions migrate northward across Europe each spring in one of nature's great insect movements.
Did You Know?
Radar studies revealed that up to 250 million Silver Y moths cross into Britain in a single summer.