Colorful Ichneumon vs Small Red Damselfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Colorful Ichneumon Small Red Damselfly
Scientific Name Ichneumon sarcitorius Ceriagrion tenellum
Order Hymenoptera Odonata
Family Ichneumonidae Coenagrionidae
Size 12-16 mm 25-35mm
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Nectar Feeders Herbivores
Regions Europe Europe, Africa
Conservation Least Concern Near Threatened

Colorful Ichneumon

A medium-sized ichneumon with a black body, yellow scutellum, and orange-tipped abdomen. It is one of the most commonly recorded ichneumons in Europe.

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Did You Know?

Males are frequently seen on umbellifer flowers in late summer, making them one of the easiest ichneumons to observe.

Small Red Damselfly

A delicate damselfly where males are almost entirely red, a rare color for damselflies. Females come in several color forms. It is a weak flier that stays close to waterside vegetation.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the only genuinely red damselflies in Europe, with males displaying a vivid scarlet color.