Black-Based Cluster Fly vs small tortoiseshell

Pollenia labialis compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Black-Based Cluster Fly is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Black-Based Cluster Fly	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Diptera (Diptera)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Polleniidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Pollenia	Aglais
Species	Pollenia labialis	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Black-Based Cluster Fly and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Black-Based Cluster Fly

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Black-Based Cluster Fly	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-Based Cluster Fly

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, and United States.

small tortoiseshell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (41 countries). Listed as Near Threatened, this species requires ongoing monitoring to prevent population decline.

Black-Based Cluster Fly

The Black-Based Cluster Fly (Pollenia labialis) is a species in the genus Pollenia. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

small tortoiseshell

small tortoiseshell (Aglais urticae) is classified as Near Threatened (NT) on the IUCN Red List. Close to qualifying as threatened, with populations that may become vulnerable without conservation action.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden