Ruddy Darter vs Tundra Mosquito
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ruddy Darter | Tundra Mosquito |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Sympetrum sanguineum | Aedes impiger |
| Order | Odonata | Diptera |
| Family | Libellulidae | Culicidae |
| Size | 34-39mm | 4-6 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Tundra & Arctic |
| Diet | Blood Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Canadian Arctic Archipelago, Greenland, Svalbard, northern Alaska |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ruddy Darter
A small dragonfly where mature males turn deep blood-red with a distinctly club-shaped abdomen. Females remain golden-yellow. It has entirely black legs unlike similar species.
Did You Know?
Pairs mate in flight, forming a heart-shaped wheel, then the female flicks eggs onto water while still attached to the male.
Tundra Mosquito
A small but abundant Arctic mosquito with dark body and pale leg bands. It is one of the most northerly distributed mosquito species in the world. Larvae inhabit shallow tundra ponds warmed by continuous summer sunlight.
Did You Know?
This mosquito has been found breeding at latitudes above 80 degrees north, among the most northerly insects on Earth.