Ancient Greenling vs Small Milkweed Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ancient Greenling | Small Milkweed Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hemiphlebia mirabilis | Lygaeus kalmii |
| Order | Odonata | Hemiptera |
| Family | Hemiphlebiidae | Lygaeidae |
| Size | 20-25 mm | 10-12 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Oceania | North America |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
Ancient Greenling
The sole surviving member of one of the most ancient damselfly families on Earth.
Did You Know?
It is considered a living fossil and the most phylogenetically isolated odonate alive.
Small Milkweed Bug
A boldly patterned red-and-black seed bug that feeds on milkweed seeds and sequesters toxic cardiac glycosides. Its warning coloration advertises its chemical defense to predators.
Did You Know?
It stores milkweed toxins in its body, making it taste terrible to birds and other predators that try to eat it.