North American Water Scorpion vs Mascarene Spreadwing
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | North American Water Scorpion | Mascarene Spreadwing |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ranatra fusca | Lestes auripennis |
| Order | Hemiptera | Odonata |
| Family | Nepidae | Lestidae |
| Size | 28-40 mm including siphon | 3.5-4.5 cm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | North America | Mauritius, Reunion |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
North American Water Scorpion
A stick-like aquatic predator found in ponds and marshes across eastern North America. It walks slowly on submerged vegetation to ambush prey.
Did You Know?
Despite being fully winged, it rarely flies and prefers to walk along the bottom of shallow ponds.
Mascarene Spreadwing
A rare damselfly endemic to Mauritius and Reunion in the Mascarene Islands. It breeds in slow-flowing streams with overhanging vegetation.
Did You Know?
Most of Mauritius's original wetland habitat has been converted to sugar cane fields.