Russet-tipped Clubtail vs Freyer's Purple Emperor

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Russet-tipped Clubtail Freyer's Purple Emperor
Scientific Name Stylurus plagiatus Apatura metis
Order Odonata Lepidoptera
Family Gomphidae Nymphalidae
Size 50-58 mm 60-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Rivers & Streams Rivers & Streams
Diet Omnivores Dung Feeders
Regions North America, Central America Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, China
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern (globally); rare and declining in Eu

Russet-tipped Clubtail

A handsome clubtail with orange-brown wingtips and a distinctly widened club-shaped abdomen. It flies late in the season along rivers in the southern US.

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Did You Know?

Its distinctly orange-russet wingtips are unique among North American clubtails.

Freyer's Purple Emperor

A large, powerful butterfly closely related to the purple emperor but restricted to river valleys. Males display a brilliant purple-blue iridescence on the upper wing surface.

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Did You Know?

Males patrol narrow sections of riverbank at high speed, chasing away all other large insects.