Cretan Bluet vs small tortoiseshell

Coenagrion intermedium compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Cretan Bluet is Endangered while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Cretan Bluet	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Odonata (Odonata)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Coenagrionidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Coenagrion	Aglais
Species	Coenagrion intermedium	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Cretan Bluet and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Cretan Bluet

EN — Endangered

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Cretan Bluet	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Cretan Bluet

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

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.

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.