Apollo Butterfly vs Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Apollo Butterfly Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Scientific Name Parnassius apollo Ischnura pumilio
Order Lepidoptera Odonata
Family Papilionidae Coenagrionidae
Size 62-86 mm wingspan 26-31 mm body length
Habitat Mountains Wetlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Mountain ranges of Europe and central Asia Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe
Conservation Vulnerable Least Concern

Apollo Butterfly

A large white butterfly with translucent wings bearing red and black eyespots, found on mountain slopes. It is one of Europe's most iconic and threatened montane species.

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Did You Know?

After mating, the male deposits a waxy plug called a sphragis on the female to prevent rival matings.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

One of Europe's smallest damselflies, with a black body and a single blue segment near the tail tip. Females come in a remarkable variety of colour forms.

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Did You Know?

It specialises in colonising new and temporary water bodies that other dragonflies avoid.