Polar Fritillary vs African Sand Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Polar Fritillary | African Sand Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Boloria polaris | Bembix capensis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Crabronidae |
| Size | 30-38 mm wingspan | 15-22 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Canadian Arctic, northern Alaska, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Scandinavia, Siberia | Southern Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Polar Fritillary
A small butterfly with warm orange upperwings marked with dark spots and zigzag lines. The underside has a distinctive pattern of white and reddish-brown patches. It is restricted to true Arctic tundra habitats.
Did You Know?
This is one of the most northerly butterflies in the world, found within a few hundred kilometers of the North Pole on Ellesmere Island.
African Sand Wasp
A fast-flying sand wasp with black and yellow banding that nests in sandy ground. Females provision nests with captured flies.
Did You Know?
Females progressively feed their developing larvae with fresh flies over several days, unlike most wasps that mass-provision.