Gunpowder tree vs small tortoiseshell

Melochia umbellata compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

  • Gunpowder tree is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank Gunpowder tree small tortoiseshell
Kingdom Plantae (Plants) Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants) Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class Magnoliopsida (Dicots) Insecta (Insects)
Order Malvales (Malvales) Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family Malvaceae Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus Melochia Aglais
Species Melochia umbellata Aglais urticae

Conservation Status

Gunpowder tree

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute Gunpowder tree small tortoiseshell
Diet
Average Lifespan
Average Length
Average Weight

Habitat & Geographic Range

Gunpowder tree

Habitat

Inhabits tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests within the Australasia biogeographic realm. Populations are also found in montane and highland environments at higher elevations.

Range

Distributed across Micronesia, Palau, Papua New Guinea, and 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.

Gunpowder tree

No description available.

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.

Nature FYI Family

Explore more of the natural world across our sister sites.

Part of the Nature FYI family — FYIPedia