American Rubyspot vs European Spruce Sawfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | American Rubyspot | European Spruce Sawfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hetaerina americana | Gilpinia hercyniae |
| Order | Odonata | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Calopterygidae | Diprionidae |
| Size | 40-50 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America, Central America | Europe, introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
American Rubyspot
A graceful damselfly with brilliant ruby-red patches at the base of the wings in males. Its metallic red-bronze body gleams in sunlight along stream banks.
Did You Know?
Males aggressively defend stream territories, clashing with rivals by displaying their ruby wing patches.
European Spruce Sawfly
A moderately sized sawfly with dark brown to black coloring and pectinate antennae in males. Larvae are green with white lateral stripes and feed on spruce needles.
Did You Know?
After its introduction to North America in the 1920s, it caused massive spruce defoliation until a naturally occurring nuclear polyhedrosis virus brought populations under control.