Forest Demoiselle vs Giant Northern Termite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Forest Demoiselle Giant Northern Termite
Scientific Name Calopteryx syriaca Mastotermes darwiniensis
Order Odonata Blattodea
Family Calopterygidae Mastotermitidae
Size 44-50 mm 10-15mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Forests
Diet Wood Feeders Wood Feeders
Regions Asia, Europe Oceania
Conservation Vulnerable Least Concern

Forest Demoiselle

A Near Eastern demoiselle found along streams in the Levant region. Males have dark wings with blue-green metallic body coloring.

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Did You Know?

It is restricted to a small number of streams in the Levant, making it one of the rarest Calopteryx species.

Giant Northern Termite

The most primitive living termite and the only surviving member of its family. It retains many cockroach-like features including laying eggs in cockroach-like oothecae. It is extremely destructive to timber.

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Did You Know?

It is a living fossil, the most primitive termite alive, retaining cockroach-like features that link termites to their ancestors.