Broad-Bordered White Underwing vs Common Spruce Bell

Anarta melanopa compared with Epinotia tedella

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Broad-Bordered White Underwing	Common Spruce Bell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order same	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Noctuidae	Tortricidae
Genus	Anarta	Epinotia
Species	Anarta melanopa	Epinotia tedella

Evolutionary Relationship

Broad-Bordered White Underwing and Common Spruce Bell share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Butterflies & Moths)

Conservation Status

Broad-Bordered White Underwing

LC — Least Concern

Common Spruce Bell

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Broad-Bordered White Underwing	Common Spruce Bell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Broad-Bordered White Underwing

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Norway and Sweden.

Common Spruce Bell

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Broad-Bordered White Underwing

The Broad-Bordered White Underwing (Anarta melanopa) is a species in the genus Anarta. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Common Spruce Bell

<em>Epinotia tedella</em>, commonly known as the common spruce bell, is a small tortrix moth in the family Tortricidae, distributed across Europe wherever its primary host plant, <em>Picea abies</em> (Norway spruce), occurs. This species typically inhabits spruce forests, forest plantations, and woodland edges with significant spruce components, from lowland areas to montane elevations throughout much of the European continent. Its geographic range extends from Scandinavia and the British Isles south through central and eastern Europe, broadly following the distribution of its conifer hosts. Classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, <em>Epinotia tedella</em> maintains stable populations across its range and is not considered threatened. The larvae feed internally within the needles of <em>Picea</em> species, mining leaf tissue and occasionally causing noticeable damage during outbreak years in plantation forestry. Adults are small moths with a wingspan of approximately 12–16 mm, displaying forewing patterns of brownish-grey with silvery strigulae typical of the genus. The species produces one generation per year, with adults flying from late spring to midsummer. Biological traits such as average lifespan in years, precise body weight, and detailed population dynamics remain poorly documented for this minor forestry pest. Diet consists primarily of Norway spruce needle tissue during the larval stage.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden