clouded-bordered brindle vs small tortoiseshell

Apamea crenata compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• clouded-bordered brindle is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	clouded-bordered brindle	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (प्राणी)	Animalia (प्राणी)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (सन्धिपाद)	Arthropoda (सन्धिपाद)
Class same	Insecta (कीट)	Insecta (कीट)
Order same	Lepidoptera (शल्कपंखी गण)	Lepidoptera (शल्कपंखी गण)
Family	Noctuidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Apamea	Aglais
Species	Apamea crenata	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

clouded-bordered brindle and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (शल्कपंखी गण)

Conservation Status

clouded-bordered brindle

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	clouded-bordered brindle	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

clouded-bordered brindle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Asia (Taiwan) and Europe (5 countries).

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.

clouded-bordered brindle

The clouded bordered brindle (Apamea crenata) is a noctuid moth in the family Noctuidae found across temperate Europe and across northern Asia to Japan. The adult wingspan measures approximately 38–45 mm, with intricately patterned grey-brown and buff forewings bearing subtle cross-lines, a scalloped (crenate) outer margin giving the species its name, and distinctive reniform and orbicular markings characteristic of the Apamea genus. Adults fly in one generation from May to July, visiting flowers for nectar at night. The larvae feed internally within the stems and roots of grasses, particularly Brachypodium and other coarse grass species in woodland rides, woodland margins, and rough grassland habitats. Overwintering occurs as a larva within plant stems. Like many grass-feeding noctuids, the clouded bordered brindle requires structural diversity in its grassland and woodland edge habitats, with areas of tall, tussocky grasses providing both larval foodplants and adult shelter. Population trends in parts of its European range reflect changes in land management affecting coarse grassland and woodland ride quality.

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 5 countries:

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