Ross's Alpine vs North African Bombardier Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ross's Alpine | North African Bombardier Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Erebia rossii | Brachinus humeralis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 34-42 mm wingspan | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Tundra & Arctic | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Arctic Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon Territory | North Africa, Southern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ross's Alpine
A dark brown butterfly with small reddish-orange eye spots on the forewings. Its cryptic coloration allows it to blend with dark tundra soils and rocks. It has a slow, bobbing flight pattern close to the ground.
Did You Know?
Named after the Arctic explorer Sir James Clark Ross, this butterfly takes two full years to develop from egg to adult.
North African Bombardier Beetle
A bombardier beetle found in North Africa and the Mediterranean basin. It has a reddish-brown head and thorax with dark blue-black elytra.
Did You Know?
Like other bombardier beetles it can fire its chemical spray in rapid pulses of up to 500 times per second.