Blue Dasher vs Forest Caterpillar Hunter
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Dasher | Forest Caterpillar Hunter |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Pachydiplax longipennis | Calosoma sycophanta |
| Order | Odonata | Coleoptera |
| Family | Libellulidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 52-58 mm wingspan | 25-35 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | North America, Central America | Europe, North Africa; introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Dasher
A medium-sized dragonfly with a powdery blue abdomen and metallic green eyes in males. It is one of the most common dragonflies in North America.
Did You Know?
Blue dashers adopt a distinctive obelisk posture in hot weather, pointing their abdomen straight up at the sun to minimize heat absorption.
Forest Caterpillar Hunter
A large, brilliant metallic green and gold ground beetle that climbs trees to hunt caterpillars. It was introduced to North America for gypsy moth biocontrol.
Did You Know?
A single beetle can consume over 300 caterpillars during its larval and adult life.