Giant Petaltail Dragonfly vs Spruce Budworm
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Petaltail Dragonfly | Spruce Budworm |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Petalura ingentissima | Choristoneura fumiferana |
| Order | Odonata | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Petaluridae | Tortricidae |
| Size | 85 mm body, 125 mm wingspan | 20-28 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Forests |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Oceania | North America |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern |
Giant Petaltail Dragonfly
Australias largest dragonfly and one of the most primitive living species, belonging to a family dating back to the Jurassic period. Larvae live in swamp burrows for years.
Did You Know?
This dragonfly is a living fossil — its family dates back 150 million years to the Jurassic, and larvae dig burrows in swamps where they may live for over a decade.
Spruce Budworm
A small mottled grey-brown moth that is the most destructive forest pest in North America. Outbreaks can kill millions of hectares of spruce and fir forest.
Did You Know?
A single outbreak in the 1970s-80s damaged more timber than all forest fires in Canada combined.