Malagasy Flatwing vs Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Malagasy Flatwing Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Scientific Name Platycnemis malgassica Ischnura pumilio
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Platycnemididae Coenagrionidae
Size 32-40 mm 26-31 mm body length
Habitat Rivers & Streams Wetlands
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Madagascar Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Malagasy Flatwing

A slender damselfly with expanded white tibiae on the middle and hind legs, used in courtship displays. Males have a pale blue body with dark dorsal markings.

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Did You Know?

Males wave their flattened white legs during courtship flights to attract females, creating a flickering visual display.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

One of Europe's smallest damselflies, with a black body and a single blue segment near the tail tip. Females come in a remarkable variety of colour forms.

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Did You Know?

It specialises in colonising new and temporary water bodies that other dragonflies avoid.