Black-grass vs small tortoiseshell

Alopecurus myosuroides compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

  • Black-grass is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Black-grass small tortoiseshell
Kingdom Plantae (Plants) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Liliopsida (Monocots) Insecta (Insects)
Order Poales (Grasses) Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family Poaceae (Grass Family) Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus Alopecurus Aglais
Species Alopecurus myosuroides Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Black-grass

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Black-grass small tortoiseshell
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Black-grass

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and montane grasslands and shrublands within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Japan, Jordan, Taiwan), Europe (22 countries), North America (Canada, Mexico, United States), Oceania and the Pacific (Australia), and South America (Chile, Peru).

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-grass

The Black-grass (Alopecurus myosuroides) is a species in the genus Alopecurus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests and montane grasslands and shrublands within the Neotropic biogeographic realm.

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.

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