Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly vs White-legged Damselfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly | White-legged Damselfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Ischnura pumilio | Platycnemis pennipes |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Coenagrionidae | Platycnemididae |
| Size | 26-31 mm body length | 32-37 mm body length |
| Habitat | Wetlands | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Omnivores | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe | Western Europe, Central Europe, Eastern Europe |
| 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.
White-legged Damselfly
A pale, delicate damselfly with distinctively flattened white legs that the male waves during courtship displays. It prefers slow-flowing rivers and canals.
Did You Know?
Males display their expanded white legs like flags to attract females during courtship.