Small Red Damselfly vs Swamp Darner

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Small Red Damselfly Swamp Darner
Scientific Name Ceriagrion tenellum Austroaeschna parvistigma
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Coenagrionidae Aeshnidae
Size 25-35mm Body 5-6 cm; wingspan 7-8 cm
Habitat Underground Rivers & Streams
Diet Herbivores Predators
Regions Europe, Africa 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.

Swamp Darner

A medium-sized brown and blue darner dragonfly found along shaded creeks in southeastern Australia. It has small stigmata on the wings, giving it its scientific name.

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Did You Know?

Males patrol low along creeks in deep shade, a behavior unusual among dragonflies that typically prefer sun.