Japanese Red Dragonfly vs Small Emerald Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Japanese Red Dragonfly Small Emerald Moth
Scientific Name Sympetrum frequens Hemistola chrysoprasaria
Order Odonata Lepidoptera
Family Libellulidae Geometridae
Size 35-45 mm 28-33 mm wingspan
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Heathland
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions East Asia, Japan Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Japanese Red Dragonfly

Known as 'akane' or 'aka-tonbo' in Japanese, this red dragonfly is one of the most iconic insects in Japanese culture. Males turn bright red at maturity. Appears in large numbers in autumn.

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Did You Know?

Red dragonflies are so symbolically important in Japan that the children's song 'Aka Tombo' (Red Dragonfly) is known by virtually every Japanese person.

Small Emerald Moth

A small, delicate moth with uniformly pale green wings and fine white fringe. It is one of the daintiest European emerald moths.

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Did You Know?

It feeds exclusively on wild clematis, making it confined to areas where this plant grows.