Painted Lady vs Mountain Ringlet
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Painted Lady | Mountain Ringlet |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Vanessa cardui | Erebia epiphron |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 54-73 mm wingspan | 32-38 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Mountains |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Africa, Europe, Asia, North America, Oceania | Mountain ranges of Europe (Alps, Pyrenees, Scotland, Lake District) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern (vulnerable to climate change) |
Painted Lady
The most widely distributed butterfly in the world, found on every continent except Antarctica and South America. Known for long-distance migrations across continents.
Did You Know?
Painted lady butterflies make the longest known insect migration — up to 15,000 km round-trip between Europe and sub-Saharan Africa across generations.
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.