Common Darter vs Burrowing Mayfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Darter | Burrowing Mayfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sympetrum striolatum | Hexagenia limbata |
| Order | Odonata | Ephemeroptera |
| Family | Libellulidae | Ephemeridae |
| Size | 35-44 mm body length | 18-32 mm body |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe, Northern Europe | North America |
| 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.
Burrowing Mayfly
Creates massive synchronized emergences so dense they appear on weather radar. Billions emerge simultaneously from lake bottoms where nymphs burrowed for up to two years.
Did You Know?
Mayfly emergences along the Mississippi River are so massive they show up on Doppler weather radar — billions of insects rising simultaneously look like approaching thunderstorms.