10-spot ladybird vs large tortoiseshell

Adalia decempunctata compared with Nymphalis polychloros

Key Differences

• 10-spot ladybird is Least Concern while large tortoiseshell is Critically Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	10-spot ladybird	large tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Coccinellidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Adalia	Nymphalis
Species	Adalia decempunctata	Nymphalis polychloros

Evolutionary Relationship

10-spot ladybird and large tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

10-spot ladybird

LC — Least Concern

large tortoiseshell

CR — Critically Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	10-spot ladybird	large tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

10-spot ladybird

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, Portugal, and Sweden.

large tortoiseshell

Habitat

Found across multiple habitat types including temperate broadleaf and mixed forests, temperate coniferous forests, and boreal forests and taiga, among 9 distinct biome types within the Palearctic biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Found across Europe (39 countries). Currently classified as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

10-spot ladybird

The 10-spot ladybird (Adalia decempunctata) is a species in the genus Adalia. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. It is found across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and 2 other countries, inhabiting diverse terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

large tortoiseshell

large tortoiseshell (Nymphalis polychloros) is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List. Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild due to severe population decline and habitat loss.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇵🇹 Portugal 🇸🇪 Sweden