Broad-bodied Chaser vs Puriri Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Broad-bodied Chaser | Puriri Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Libellula depressa | Aenetus virescens |
| Order | Odonata | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Libellulidae | Hepialidae |
| Size | 39-48 mm body length | 100-150 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Gardens | Grasslands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe | Oceania (New Zealand - North Island) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Broad-bodied Chaser
A stocky dragonfly with a distinctly flattened, broad abdomen that is powder-blue in males and golden-brown in females. It is often the first dragonfly to colonise new garden ponds.
Did You Know?
It can appear at a new garden pond within days of it being filled with water.
Puriri Moth
New Zealand's largest moth, with a wingspan up to 150 mm. The caterpillars bore into the trunks of native trees, particularly puriri and putaputaweta, creating characteristic U-shaped tunnels. Adults have no functional mouthparts and do not feed.
Did You Know?
Puriri moth larvae can spend up to six years boring through living tree trunks before pupating and emerging as adults that live only a few days.