False widow vs small tortoiseshell

Steatoda bipunctata compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• False widow is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	False widow	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Arachnida (Arachnids)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Araneae (Araneae)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Theridiidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Steatoda	Aglais
Species	Steatoda bipunctata	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

False widow and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Phylum level: Arthropoda. (Arthropods)

Conservation Status

False widow

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	False widow	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

False widow

Habitat

Typically found in terrestrial habitats from forests to deserts.

Range

Found across Europe (4 countries) and North America (Canada, 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.

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 4 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium 🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden