Hairy Dragonfly vs Forest Caterpillar Hunter
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Hairy Dragonfly | Forest Caterpillar Hunter |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Brachytron pratense | Calosoma sycophanta |
| Order | Odonata | Coleoptera |
| Family | Aeshnidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 54-63mm | 25-35 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | Europe, North Africa; introduced to North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Hairy Dragonfly
The earliest-emerging hawker dragonfly in Europe, with a distinctively hairy thorax. Males have blue and green markings on a dark body. It flies along ditches and reed-fringed waterways.
Did You Know?
It emerges up to two months earlier than other hawkers, giving it exclusive access to spring insect prey.
Forest Caterpillar Hunter
A large, brilliant metallic green and gold ground beetle that climbs trees to hunt caterpillars. It was introduced to North America for gypsy moth biocontrol.
Did You Know?
A single beetle can consume over 300 caterpillars during its larval and adult life.