small tortoiseshell vs strange wave

Aglais urticae compared with Idaea laevigata

Key Differences

• small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened while strange wave is Not Evaluated.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	small tortoiseshell	strange wave
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	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)	Geometridae
Genus	Aglais	Idaea
Species	Aglais urticae	Idaea laevigata

Evolutionary Relationship

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

Conservation Status

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

strange wave

NE — Not Evaluated

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	small tortoiseshell	strange wave
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

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.

strange wave

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in Belgium.

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 1 countries:

🇧🇪 Belgium