Meadow White vs small tortoiseshell

Pontia helice compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Meadow White is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Meadow White	small tortoiseshell
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	Pieridae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Pontia	Aglais
Species	Pontia helice	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Meadow White and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (Butterflies & Moths)

Conservation Status

Meadow White

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Meadow White	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Meadow White

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.