Common Grey vs small tortoiseshell

Scoparia ambigualis compared with Aglais urticae

Key Differences

• Common Grey is Least Concern while small tortoiseshell is Near Threatened.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common Grey	small tortoiseshell
Kingdom same	Animalia (животные)	Animalia (животные)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (членистоногие)	Arthropoda (членистоногие)
Class same	Insecta (насекомые)	Insecta (насекомые)
Order same	Lepidoptera (чешуекрылые)	Lepidoptera (чешуекрылые)
Family	Crambidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Scoparia	Aglais
Species	Scoparia ambigualis	Aglais urticae

Evolutionary Relationship

Common Grey and small tortoiseshell share a common ancestor at the Order level: Lepidoptera. (чешуекрылые)

Conservation Status

Common Grey

LC — Least Concern

small tortoiseshell

NT — Near Threatened

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common Grey	small tortoiseshell
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common Grey

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

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.

Common Grey

<em>Scoparia ambigualis</em>, commonly known as the common grey, is a small moth belonging to the genus Scoparia within the family Crambidae. This species inhabits virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats and has a documented range across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden in northwestern and Scandinavian Europe. Common grey is assessed as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. The species is typically encountered in a variety of open and semi-open habitats including heathland, grassland, and woodland edges, where its cryptically patterned grey and white forewings provide effective camouflage at rest. Adults are typically nocturnal and are attracted to light. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

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 4 countries:

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