Blue Skimmer vs Bee Assassin Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Blue Skimmer | Bee Assassin Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Orthetrum caledonicum | Apiomerus flaviventris |
| Order | Odonata | Hemiptera |
| Family | Libellulidae | Reduviidae |
| Size | Body 4-5 cm; wingspan 6-8 cm | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Underground |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand | South America (Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Blue Skimmer
A common Australian dragonfly where mature males develop a powdery blue pruinescence over their abdomen. Females and young males are brown and yellow.
Did You Know?
The blue coloring of males is not a pigment but a waxy powder that can be rubbed off with a finger.
Bee Assassin Bug
A brightly colored assassin bug with a red and black body and a yellow underside. It specializes in ambushing bees and other flower-visiting insects by coating its forelegs with sticky plant resin. It is commonly found perched on flowers waiting for prey.
Did You Know?
It applies sticky plant resin to its forelegs as a natural glue trap, an extremely rare example of tool use in insects.