Wall Brown vs New Zealand Red Admiral

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wall Brown New Zealand Red Admiral
Scientific Name Lasiommata megera Vanessa gonerilla
Order Lepidoptera Lepidoptera
Family Nymphalidae Nymphalidae
Size Wingspan 36-50mm 50-60 mm wingspan
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Gardens
Diet Herbivores Sap Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia Oceania (New Zealand)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wall Brown

An orange-brown butterfly with eyespots that basks with wings open on walls, rocks and bare ground.

💡

Did You Know?

Named for its habit of sunbathing on warm walls and has sadly declined across much of western Europe.

New Zealand Red Admiral

An endemic New Zealand butterfly with striking red and black wing patterns. It is found throughout both main islands in bush margins and gardens. The larvae feed exclusively on native stinging nettle (ongaonga).

💡

Did You Know?

Unlike most butterflies, the New Zealand red admiral overwinters as an adult and can sometimes be seen flying on warm winter days.