Helicopter Dragonfly vs Dicromantispa Mantidfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Helicopter Dragonfly Dicromantispa Mantidfly
Scientific Name Mecistogaster linearis Dicromantispa sayi
Order Odonata Neuroptera
Family Pseudostigmatidae Mantispidae
Size 80 mm body, 100 mm wingspan 18-28 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Central America, South America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Helicopter Dragonfly

A forest giant damselfly that plucks spiders from their webs while hovering.

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Did You Know?

Females oviposit into water-filled bromeliads and tree holes in the canopy.

Dicromantispa Mantidfly

A brown mantidfly found across eastern North America in forested habitats. Named after the eminent entomologist Thomas Say.

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Did You Know?

Females lay thousands of eggs on stalks, but only larvae that find spider egg sacs survive.