# Melissa Arctic (*Oeneis melissa*) The Melissa Arctic is a beautiful butterfly with striking colors. It flutters around in cold places, bringing joy to anyone who sees it. Its wings are like tiny works of art! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 1 - **Habitat:** Tundra ![Melissa Arctic](https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/30754935/medium.jpg) Photo: CC0 · [iNaturalist](https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/30754935) ## Appearance The Melissa Arctic is a medium-sized butterfly with mottled brown and gray wings, often featuring small, indistinct eyespots. Its underside is intricately patterned, providing camouflage against rocky, lichen-covered environments. This dull coloration helps it blend into its harsh Arctic home. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Lepidoptera - **Family:** Nymphalidae - **Genus:** Oeneis ## Interesting facts - Its caterpillar can take two to three years to grow up! - Melissa Arctic butterflies lay their eggs directly on grasses, not flowers. - They warm up by tilting their bodies to catch every ray of sun. - This butterfly can fly when temperatures are barely above freezing! ## Special abilities - **Cold Survival Gear:** Melissa Arctic can remain active in chilly Arctic air because of special adaptations that help them fly and forage at low temperatures. - **Rock Blending Master:** Melissa Arctic has cryptic wing patterns that help them disappear against lichen-covered rocks, protecting them from predators. - **Two-Year Sleepers:** Melissa Arctic caterpillars can pause their growth for up to two winters because of a unique life cycle that helps them survive the extreme cold. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 40-65 mm - **Size:** 25-40 mm - **Lifespan:** 10-18 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults sip flower nectar for energy, while caterpillars munch on tough Arctic grasses. - **Age differences:** Adults feed on nectar; caterpillars eat various types of grasses and sedges. - **Primary Foods:** flower nectar, grasses, sedges - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Mountain Avens (*Dryas octopetala*) — Adults visit these Arctic flowers for nectar. - **Eats:** Viviparous Fescue (*Festuca vivipara*) — Caterpillars feed on the leaves of this hardy grass. - **Eaten by:** Lapland Longspur (*Calcarius lapponicus*) — Larvae and adults can be a food source for birds. - **Eaten by:** Arctic Wolf Spider (*Pardosa glacialis*) — These spiders prey on adult butterflies. ## Traits - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Tundra](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/tundra): This habitat trait refers to species inhabiting tundras, which are treeless biomes characterized by permafrost, cold temperatures, and low-growing vegetation. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always watch butterflies from a distance. They are delicate and need space! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Melissa Arctic? Compare the wing outline, spots, bands, eyespots and wing edges. The underside can look completely different from the top. Check for tails, the antennae and where the markings sit instead of relying on color alone. Butterfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Melissa Arctic's wingspan? 40-65 mm ### How big is Melissa Arctic? 25-40 mm ### How long does Melissa Arctic live? 10-18 days ### How fast can Melissa Arctic fly? 10 km/h ### What does Melissa Arctic eat? Adults sip flower nectar for energy, while caterpillars munch on tough Arctic grasses. ### Where is Melissa Arctic usually found? Tundra ### How does Melissa Arctic hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Bremner Historic Mining District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bremner-historic-mining-district) — Alaska, US · Historic District ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Melissa Arctic: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/melissa-arctic)