Red Admiral vs Nelson Alpine Giant Weta

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute	Red Admiral	Nelson Alpine Giant Weta
Scientific Name	Vanessa atalanta	Deinacrida fallai
Order	Lepidoptera	Orthoptera
Family	Nymphalidae	Anostostomatidae
Size	56-62 mm wingspan	70-90 mm body
Habitat	Gardens	Mountains
Diet	Fruit Feeders	Fruit Feeders
Regions	Europe, North America, North Africa, Asia	Oceania
Conservation	Least Concern	Vulnerable

Red Admiral

A bold black butterfly with red-orange bands and white spots, commonly seen in gardens. It is a strong migrant and occasional overwinterer.

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Did You Know?

In autumn it is strongly attracted to fermenting fallen fruit and can become intoxicated on the alcohol.

Nelson Alpine Giant Weta

A giant weta found above the tree line in the mountains of northwest Nelson, New Zealand. Nocturnal and ground-dwelling, surviving harsh alpine conditions.

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Did You Know?

This giant weta lives above the tree line at over 1,200 meters elevation, enduring snowfall and near-freezing temperatures that would kill most tropical insects.