African Emperor Moth vs Northern Damselfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Emperor Moth | Northern Damselfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bunaea caffraria | Coenagrion johanssoni |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Odonata |
| Family | Saturniidae | Coenagrionidae |
| Size | 80-120 mm | 28-35 mm body length |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Southern and East Africa | Northern Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Emperor Moth
A large African saturniid with warm brown wings bearing conspicuous eyespots edged in pink and black. Its massive spiny caterpillars are a common sight on savanna trees.
Did You Know?
The caterpillars of Bunaea caffraria are gregarious when young, forming dense clusters on branches that can completely strip small trees of foliage.
Northern Damselfly
A delicate blue and black damselfly with narrow wings held together above the body at rest. Males have a distinctive blue pattern on the abdomen. It breeds in bog pools and marshy lakeshores.
Did You Know?
This damselfly has one of the most northerly distributions of any odonate, surviving in habitats where the breeding season lasts only a few weeks.