Small Red Damselfly vs Indian Fritillary

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Red Damselfly Indian Fritillary
Scientific Name Ceriagrion tenellum Argyreus hyperbius
Order Odonata Lepidoptera
Family Coenagrionidae Nymphalidae
Size 25-35mm 55-70 mm wingspan
Habitat Underground Underground
Diet Herbivores Nectar Feeders
Regions Europe, Africa South Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Small Red Damselfly

A delicate damselfly where males are almost entirely red, a rare color for damselflies. Females come in several color forms. It is a weak flier that stays close to waterside vegetation.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the only genuinely red damselflies in Europe, with males displaying a vivid scarlet color.

Indian Fritillary

Orange wings with rounded black spots; females have darker forewings with white patches. Females mimic the toxic Danaus chrysippus.

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Did You Know?

Female-limited Batesian mimicry protects them while males retain the ancestral orange pattern.