Wall Brown vs Water Treader

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wall Brown Water Treader
Scientific Name Lasiommata megera Mesovelia mulsanti
Order Lepidoptera Hemiptera
Family Nymphalidae Mesoveliidae
Size Wingspan 36-50mm 3-4 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Ponds & Lakes
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Asia Americas, from United States to South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wall Brown

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

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Did You Know?

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

Water Treader

A tiny, bright green semi-aquatic bug that walks on the surface of still waters among floating vegetation. It is widespread across the Americas and is often found on lily pads and duckweed. Both winged and wingless forms exist.

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Did You Know?

It hunts by detecting the tiny ripples made by struggling prey items on the water surface, running across lily pads and open water to reach them.