Snyder's Zorapteran vs Ross's Alpine
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Snyder's Zorapteran | Ross's Alpine |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Zorotypus snyderi | Erebia rossii |
| Order | Zoraptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Zorotypidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 34-42 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southeastern United States | Arctic Alaska, northern Canada, Yukon Territory |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Snyder's Zorapteran
A minute gregarious insect living in small colonies in rotting logs. Wingless forms are blind and pale, while winged forms have eyes and darker coloration.
Did You Know?
Winged zorapterans deliberately break off their own wings after finding a suitable colony site.
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.