Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly vs Swaine Jack Pine Sawfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly Swaine Jack Pine Sawfly
Scientific Name Ischnura pumilio Neodiprion swainei
Order Odonata Hymenoptera
Family Coenagrionidae Diprionidae
Size 26-31 mm body length 6-9 mm
Habitat Wetlands Forests
Diet Omnivores Omnivores
Regions Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe Eastern Canada, northeastern United States
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.

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Did You Know?

It specialises in colonising new and temporary water bodies that other dragonflies avoid.

Swaine Jack Pine Sawfly

A pine sawfly with strongly pectinate male antennae and sawfly females that are stouter and paler. Larvae are olive green with lighter stripes and feed on jack pine.

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Did You Know?

Major outbreaks have historically defoliated millions of hectares of jack pine in Quebec, though populations crash when viral diseases sweep through colonies.