Small Magpie Moth vs Melissa Arctic
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Small Magpie Moth | Melissa Arctic |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anania hortulata | Oeneis melissa |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Crambidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 26-30 mm wingspan | 40-50 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Underground | Mountains |
| Diet | Herbivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Arctic and subarctic North America, Rocky Mountain alpine zones |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Small Magpie Moth
A pretty white moth with black spots and a yellow head. Despite its name, it is a crambid rather than a geometrid like the true Magpie Moth.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar lives inside a rolled leaf shelter that it spins shut with silk.
Melissa Arctic
A gray-brown butterfly with subtle orange patches and small blind eyespots. The hindwing underside features dark, bark-like striations for camouflage. It has an erratic, bouncing flight that makes it hard to track.
Did You Know?
Populations on isolated mountain peaks are considered glacial relicts, stranded since the last Ice Age when the tundra receded northward.