Northern Damselfly vs Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Northern Damselfly | Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coenagrion johanssoni | Dytiscus latissimus |
| Order | Odonata | Coleoptera |
| Family | Coenagrionidae | Dytiscidae |
| Size | 28-35 mm body length | 36-44 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Northern Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Siberia | Northern Europe, Scandinavia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
Northern Damselfly
A delicate blue and black damselfly with narrow wings held together above the body at rest. Males have a distinctive blue pattern on the abdomen. It breeds in bog pools and marshy lakeshores.
Did You Know?
This damselfly has one of the most northerly distributions of any odonate, surviving in habitats where the breeding season lasts only a few weeks.
Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle
The largest European diving beetle and one of the largest aquatic beetles in the world. It inhabits clean, fish-poor lakes and is increasingly rare.
Did You Know?
It is protected under the EU Habitats Directive and is one of the most endangered beetles in Europe.