San Francisco Forktail Damselfly vs Costa Rican Firefly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | San Francisco Forktail Damselfly | Costa Rican Firefly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ischnura gemina | Aspisoma ignitum |
| Order | Odonata | Coleoptera |
| Family | Coenagrionidae | Lampyridae |
| Size | 2.5-3 cm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | United States | Central America, Costa Rica |
| Conservation | Endangered | Least Concern |
San Francisco Forktail Damselfly
A tiny damselfly restricted to a few freshwater ponds near the San Francisco Bay coast. It is threatened by urban encroachment and invasive plants.
Did You Know?
This species is nearly identical to the common Pacific forktail and can only be distinguished by close examination.
Costa Rican Firefly
A neotropical firefly with a dark body and reddish pronotum bearing a median dark stripe. It produces a bright yellow-green flash and is common in lowland tropical forests of Central America.
Did You Know?
Central American firefly diversity is thought to rival that of Southeast Asia, though far fewer species have been formally described.