Mnestra's Ringlet vs Spotted-eye Hover Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mnestra's Ringlet Spotted-eye Hover Fly
Scientific Name Erebia mnestra Eristalinus taeniops
Order Lepidoptera Hymenoptera
Family Nymphalidae Syrphidae
Size 32-38 mm wingspan 12-16 mm
Habitat Grasslands Wetlands
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Alps Throughout Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mnestra's Ringlet

A dark alpine ringlet with bright orange patches on its forewings. It inhabits steep, rocky grasslands at high elevations.

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Did You Know?

It has a two-year life cycle, with larvae overwintering twice before pupating.

Spotted-eye Hover Fly

A large hover fly with distinctively striped compound eyes and a bee-like body. It is an excellent pollinator found throughout Africa.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae are rat-tailed maggots that breathe through a telescoping siphon while living in stagnant water.