Japanese Emperor Dragonfly vs Xanthostigma Snakefly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Emperor Dragonfly Xanthostigma Snakefly
Scientific Name Anax parthenope julius Xanthostigma xanthostigma
Order Odonata Raphidioptera
Family Aeshnidae Raphidiidae
Size 70-80 mm body length 12-18 mm
Habitat Wetlands Woodlands
Diet Predators Predators
Regions East Asia, Japan/Korea Europe, Western Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Emperor Dragonfly

A large hawker dragonfly and one of the most powerful aerial predators in Japanese wetlands. Known as 'gin-yanma' for its silvery-blue markings. Males patrol territories aggressively over ponds.

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Did You Know?

This dragonfly can fly at speeds exceeding 30 km/h and catch prey in mid-air using its legs as a basket-like scoop.

Xanthostigma Snakefly

A snakefly with a distinctive yellow wing stigma from which it derives its name. It is found in European woodlands where it hunts small insects on tree trunks.

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Did You Know?

Snakefly larvae develop under bark where they are voracious predators of bark beetle larvae and other wood-boring insects.