Southern Stonefly vs Arctic Grayling
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Southern Stonefly | Arctic Grayling |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aphanicerca capensis | Oeneis bore |
| Order | Plecoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Notonemouridae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 38-48 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Mountains | Mountains |
| Diet | Detritivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern Africa | Arctic Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia, Alaska, northern Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Southern Stonefly
A small brown stonefly endemic to mountain streams of the Western Cape, South Africa. It belongs to a Southern Hemisphere family with Gondwanan origins.
Did You Know?
Its family Notonemouridae is found only in the Southern Hemisphere, a legacy of the breakup of Gondwana.
Arctic Grayling
A pale grayish-brown butterfly with a translucent, papery wing quality and subtle darker striations. Its cryptic appearance makes it nearly invisible on lichen-covered rocks. Adults are extremely wary and difficult to approach.
Did You Know?
When this butterfly lands on lichen-covered rocks, it tilts sideways to align its wing veins with the rock cracks, achieving near-perfect camouflage.