Cretan Hawker vs Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cretan Hawker Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Scientific Name Boyeria cretensis Ischnura pumilio
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Aeshnidae Coenagrionidae
Size 60-70 mm body 26-31 mm body length
Habitat Mountains Wetlands
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Crete, Greece Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe
Conservation Endangered Least Concern

Cretan Hawker

A dragonfly endemic to the island of Crete, found only along a few shaded mountain streams. One of Europe's most range-restricted dragonflies. Threatened by water extraction.

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Did You Know?

Found nowhere else on Earth except a few mountain streams on the island of Crete.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

One of Europe's smallest damselflies, with a black body and a single blue segment near the tail tip. Females come in a remarkable variety of colour forms.

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Did You Know?

It specialises in colonising new and temporary water bodies that other dragonflies avoid.