Soldier Fly vs Blue Dasher
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Soldier Fly | Blue Dasher |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Odontomyia tigrina | Pachydiplax longipennis |
| Order | Diptera | Odonata |
| Family | Stratiomyidae | Libellulidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 52-58 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | North America, Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Soldier Fly
A brightly colored soldier fly with aquatic larvae that filter-feed in ponds.
Did You Know?
Larvae float at the surface and breathe through a rosette of hydrophobic tail hairs.
Blue Dasher
A medium-sized dragonfly with a powdery blue abdomen and metallic green eyes in males. It is one of the most common dragonflies in North America.
Did You Know?
Blue dashers adopt a distinctive obelisk posture in hot weather, pointing their abdomen straight up at the sun to minimize heat absorption.