Black-tailed Skimmer vs Navel Orangeworm
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black-tailed Skimmer | Navel Orangeworm |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Orthetrum cancellatum | Amyelois transitella |
| Order | Odonata | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Libellulidae | Pyralidae |
| Size | 44-50 mm body length | 20-28 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Deserts & Drylands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Black-tailed Skimmer
A robust dragonfly with a powder-blue abdomen tipped with black in mature males. It basks flat on bare ground and gravel banks beside open water.
Did You Know?
Unlike most dragonflies, it prefers to rest flat on the ground rather than perching on vegetation.
Navel Orangeworm
The most damaging pest of almonds, walnuts, and pistachios in California. Larvae bore into nuts and contaminate them with frass and fungal spores.
Did You Know?
It promotes aflatoxin contamination by introducing Aspergillus fungi into damaged nuts.