Flax Rust vs small tortoiseshell

Melampsora lini compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

Flax Rust is Not Evaluated while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Flax Rust	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Basidiomycota (Club Fungi)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Pucciniomycetes (Pucciniomycetes)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Pucciniales (Pucciniales)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Melampsoraceae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Melampsora	Aglais
Species	Melampsora lini	Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Flax Rust

NE — Not Evaluated

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Flax Rust	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Flax Rust

Habitat

Native to Europe, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Found in Norway.

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 (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.