Mountain Hover Fly vs Small Apollo

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Mountain Hover Fly Small Apollo
Scientific Name Arctophila superbiens Parnassius phoebus
Order Diptera Lepidoptera
Family Syrphidae Papilionidae
Size 10-14 mm body length 50-60 mm wingspan
Habitat Meadows Meadows
Diet Nectar Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Northern Europe, Alps, Siberia Central Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Mountain Hover Fly

A furry, bumblebee-mimicking hover fly of alpine meadows. Its dense body hair helps it retain heat in cold mountain environments.

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Did You Know?

Its convincing bumblebee mimicry deters predators despite being completely harmless.

Small Apollo

A high-altitude alpine butterfly with translucent white wings bearing small red and black spots. It flies weakly over alpine meadows and scree slopes above the treeline.

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Did You Know?

It only occurs above the treeline in the Alps and is one of Europe's highest-altitude butterflies.