Oregon Silverspot Butterfly vs Arctic Aphid
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Oregon Silverspot Butterfly | Arctic Aphid |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Speyeria zerene hippolyta | Acyrthosiphon svalbardicum |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hemiptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Aphididae |
| Size | 5-6 cm wingspan | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | United States | Svalbard, Arctic Scandinavia, Greenland |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Oregon Silverspot Butterfly
A medium-sized fritillary butterfly with bright silver spots on its hindwing undersides. It inhabits coastal grasslands from Washington to northern California.
Did You Know?
Its larvae feed exclusively on early blue violet plants that grow in wind-swept coastal prairies.
Arctic Aphid
A small, pale green aphid that is one of the most northerly herbivorous insects on Earth. It feeds on the sap of Dryas octopetala and other Arctic plants. Populations are entirely parthenogenetic in the High Arctic.
Did You Know?
This aphid reproduces entirely without mating in the Arctic, producing live young that are clones of the mother.