Arrowhead Spiketail vs White-spotted Ichneumon

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Arrowhead Spiketail White-spotted Ichneumon
Scientific Name Cordulegaster obliqua Compsocryptus texensis
Order Odonata Hymenoptera
Family Cordulegastridae Ichneumonidae
Size 70-80 mm 10-18 mm
Habitat Forests Heathland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions North America Southern United States, Mexico
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Arrowhead Spiketail

A large spiketail dragonfly with arrowhead-shaped yellow markings along its dark abdomen. It is found along seepage-fed streams in eastern North American forests.

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Did You Know?

Females can insert eggs directly into hard-packed stream gravel using their spike-like ovipositor.

White-spotted Ichneumon

A medium black ichneumon wasp with conspicuous white spots on the thorax and legs. It parasitizes spider egg sacs and caterpillars.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the few ichneumon wasps adapted to the hot, dry conditions of the American Southwest.