River Jewelwing vs Lesser Purple Emperor
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | River Jewelwing | Lesser Purple Emperor |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calopteryx aequabilis | Apatura ilia |
| Order | Odonata | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Calopterygidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 42-54 mm | 54-68 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | North America | Central and southern Europe, temperate Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
River Jewelwing
A North American damselfly with narrow dark wing tips in males and a metallic green body. It prefers faster-flowing rivers than the Ebony Jewelwing.
Did You Know?
Males have dark tips on otherwise clear wings, the reverse pattern of most other jewelwings.
Lesser Purple Emperor
Similar to the Purple Emperor but smaller, with an ocellus on the forewing and more strongly marked underside. It occurs in two forms: typical purple and a golden-orange aberration.
Did You Know?
The orange form (f. clytie) was once thought to be a separate species before genetics proved otherwise.