Common Darter vs Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Darter | Arctic Woolly Bear Moth |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sympetrum striolatum | Gynaephora groenlandica |
| Order | Odonata | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Libellulidae | Erebidae |
| Size | 35-44 mm body length | 30-40 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Heathland |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Northern Europe | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Ellesmere Island |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Darter
Europe's most abundant dragonfly, with mature males turning bright orange-red. It is often the last dragonfly flying in autumn, sometimes into November.
Did You Know?
Mating pairs lay eggs by repeatedly dipping the female's abdomen into the water while flying in tandem.
Arctic Woolly Bear Moth
A medium-sized moth whose caterpillar is famous for its extremely long development. Adults are gray-brown with hairy bodies. The densely hairy caterpillar is dark brown to black and curls into a tight ball when disturbed.
Did You Know?
The caterpillar can take up to 14 years to complete development, spending most of each year frozen solid and thawing for only a few weeks of feeding each summer.