Marbled White vs Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Marbled White | Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Melanargia galathea | Ischnura pumilio |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Odonata |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Coenagrionidae |
| Size | 46-56 mm wingspan | 26-31 mm body length |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Wetlands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, western Asia, North Africa | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Marbled White
A distinctive butterfly with bold black and white chequered wings that resembles no other European species. Despite its appearance, it is a member of the browns family, not the whites.
Did You Know?
Uniquely, females simply drop their eggs randomly into grass while in flight rather than placing them on food plants.
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.
Did You Know?
It specialises in colonising new and temporary water bodies that other dragonflies avoid.