Western Iron Dun vs Mountain Ringlet

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Western Iron Dun Mountain Ringlet
Scientific Name Epeorus longimanus Erebia epiphron
Order Ephemeroptera Lepidoptera
Family Heptageniidae Nymphalidae
Size 10-14 mm 32-38 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Mountains
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Mountain ranges of Europe (Alps, Pyrenees, Scotland, Lake District)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern (vulnerable to climate change)

Western Iron Dun

An iconic eastern mayfly that signals the start of spring fly-fishing season. Nymphs have only two tails and cling to rocks in fast current.

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Did You Know?

It was named after Theodore Gordon, considered the father of American dry-fly fishing.

Mountain Ringlet

A small dark brown butterfly with orange-ringed eyespots found only at high altitudes. In Britain it is the only truly alpine butterfly, flying above 500 metres.

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Did You Know?

It only flies in sunshine and immediately drops into the grass the moment a cloud covers the sun.