Melissa Arctic vs Mountain Ringlet
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Melissa Arctic | Mountain Ringlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oeneis melissa | Erebia epiphron |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 40-50 mm wingspan | 32-38 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Mountains | Mountains |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Arctic and subarctic North America, Rocky Mountain alpine zones | Mountain ranges of Europe (Alps, Pyrenees, Scotland, Lake District) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (vulnerable to climate change) |
Melissa Arctic
A gray-brown butterfly with subtle orange patches and small blind eyespots. The hindwing underside features dark, bark-like striations for camouflage. It has an erratic, bouncing flight that makes it hard to track.
Did You Know?
Populations on isolated mountain peaks are considered glacial relicts, stranded since the last Ice Age when the tundra receded northward.
Mountain Ringlet
A small dark brown butterfly with orange-ringed eyespots found only at high altitudes. In Britain it is the only truly alpine butterfly, flying above 500 metres.
Did You Know?
It only flies in sunshine and immediately drops into the grass the moment a cloud covers the sun.