Say's Firefly vs Ross's Alpine
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Say's Firefly | Ross's Alpine |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pyractomena angulata | Erebia rossii |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Lampyridae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 8-14 mm | 34-42 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Eastern North America | Arctic Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon Territory |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Say's Firefly
An early-season firefly with amber-orange flashes seen in spring across eastern North America. It is among the first fireflies to appear each year.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are semi-aquatic and can survive temporary flooding of their habitats.
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.