Mountain Ringlet vs Japanese Carpenter Ant
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Mountain Ringlet | Japanese Carpenter Ant |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Erebia epiphron | Camponotus japonicus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Formicidae |
| Size | 32-38 mm wingspan | 7-13 mm |
| Habitat | Mountains | Underground |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Mountain ranges of Europe (Alps, Pyrenees, Scotland, Lake District) | Japan, China, Korea |
| Conservation | Least Concern (vulnerable to climate change) | Least Concern |
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.
Japanese Carpenter Ant
A large black carpenter ant common throughout East Asia and a popular species in ant keeping. Colonies can grow very large with distinctive polymorphic worker castes.
Did You Know?
This ant is one of the most commonly kept pet ant species in Japan and has become an icon in the Japanese ant-keeping hobby.