Pacific Spiketail vs Four-Spotted Chaser

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pacific Spiketail Four-Spotted Chaser
Scientific Name Cordulegaster dorsalis Libellula quadrimaculata
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Cordulegastridae Libellulidae
Size 65-75 mm 60-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Forests Ponds & Lakes
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions North America Europe, Asia, North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Pacific Spiketail

The only spiketail dragonfly on the Pacific coast of North America. It has a dark brown body with yellow dorsal spots and patrols shaded forest seepages.

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Did You Know?

It is the only spiketail species found west of the Rocky Mountains in North America.

Four-Spotted Chaser

A medium-sized dragonfly with two dark spots on the leading edge of each wing, totaling four. It is one of the most widespread dragonflies in the Northern Hemisphere.

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Did You Know?

This species occasionally undertakes mass migrations in Europe, with millions of individuals seen flying together in a single direction.