Pacific Spiketail vs Sapphire Flutterer

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Pacific Spiketail Sapphire Flutterer
Scientific Name Cordulegaster dorsalis Rhyothemis triangularis
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Cordulegastridae Libellulidae
Size 65-75 mm 30-38mm
Habitat Forests Ponds & Lakes
Diet Omnivores Predators
Regions North America Asia
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.

Sapphire Flutterer

A small dragonfly with sapphire-blue metallic patches on its hindwings. It has a fluttering, butterfly-like flight pattern. Males display their iridescent wings in courtship flights over ponds.

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Did You Know?

Its butterfly-like flight and metallic blue wings make it look more like a jeweled butterfly than a dragonfly.