Wesmael's Brown Lacewing vs Dusky-winged Fritillary

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wesmael's Brown Lacewing Dusky-winged Fritillary
Scientific Name Wesmaelius subnebulosus Boloria natazhati
Order Neuroptera Lepidoptera
Family Hemerobiidae Nymphalidae
Size 10-16 mm wingspan 28-34 mm wingspan
Habitat Woodlands Tundra & Arctic
Diet Herbivores Herbivores
Regions Europe, Western Asia Alaska, Yukon, northern British Columbia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wesmael's Brown Lacewing

A medium-sized brown lacewing with subtly patterned wings found across Europe. Frequent in gardens and deciduous woodland.

💡

Did You Know?

It is one of the earliest lacewings to appear in spring, sometimes active as early as March.

Dusky-winged Fritillary

A small fritillary butterfly with dark brown wings bearing orange spots and complex underside markings. It flies in remote mountain passes and high tundra. The species is named after Mount Natazhat in Alaska.

💡

Did You Know?

This butterfly is so restricted to high-altitude Arctic habitats that each mountain population may be genetically distinct.