Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly vs Neotropical Backswimmer
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly | Neotropical Backswimmer |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ischnura pumilio | Buenoa antigone |
| Order | Odonata | Hemiptera |
| Family | Coenagrionidae | Notonectidae |
| Size | 26-31 mm body length | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe | Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Neotropical Backswimmer
A small aquatic bug that swims upside-down using its long oar-like hind legs. Its pale ventral surface provides camouflage when viewed from below against the sky.
Did You Know?
It carries a silvery air bubble on its belly that functions like a physical gill, extracting dissolved oxygen from the water.