Banded Demoiselle vs Tepui Firefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Banded Demoiselle Tepui Firefly
Scientific Name Calopteryx splendens Photinus tepui
Order Odonata Coleoptera
Family Calopterygidae Lampyridae
Size 45-48 mm wingspan 10-15 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Mountains
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe, Asia South America (Venezuela - tepui region, Guyana)
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Banded Demoiselle

A striking damselfly with metallic blue-green body and distinctive dark wing patches in males. It frequents slow-flowing rivers and streams across Europe.

💡

Did You Know?

Males perform an elaborate fluttering courtship display flight, hovering in front of females to show off their iridescent wing patches.

Tepui Firefly

A bioluminescent beetle endemic to the isolated tepui tabletop mountains of Venezuela. It produces a distinctive greenish-yellow flash pattern used in mate attraction. The larvae are also luminous and prey on snails and other small invertebrates on the tepui summit.

💡

Did You Know?

It lives only on the ancient tabletop mountains of Venezuela, which have been isolated for millions of years, making it a living relic of evolutionary history.