Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly vs Azure Damselfly of Azores
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly | Azure Damselfly of Azores |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ischnura pumilio | Ischnura hastata |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Coenagrionidae | Coenagrionidae |
| Size | 26-31 mm body length | 2.5-3 cm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Predators |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe | Portugal |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
One of Europe's smallest damselflies, with a black body and a single blue segment near the tail tip. Females come in a remarkable variety of colour forms.
Did You Know?
It specialises in colonising new and temporary water bodies that other dragonflies avoid.
Azure Damselfly of Azores
On the Azores, this species has evolved the only known all-female population of any odonate. These females reproduce through parthenogenesis.
Did You Know?
The Azores population is entirely female and reproduces without mating, a phenomenon unique among dragonflies and damselflies.