Spined Soldier Bug vs Forest Darner
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Spined Soldier Bug | Forest Darner |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Podisus maculiventris | Austroaeschna pulchra |
| Order | Hemiptera | Odonata |
| Family | Pentatomidae | Aeshnidae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | Body 5-6 cm; wingspan 7-9 cm |
| Habitat | Gardens | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Throughout North America | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Spined Soldier Bug
A beneficial predatory stink bug with prominent shoulder spines and a mottled brown body. It feeds on pest caterpillars and beetle larvae in gardens and agricultural fields.
Did You Know?
It is commercially reared and sold as a biological control agent for managing pest caterpillars in agriculture.
Forest Darner
A handsome darner dragonfly with blue and brown markings found in temperate forests of eastern Australia. It flies along sunlit gaps in the forest canopy.
Did You Know?
Its genus name Austroaeschna means 'southern darner', reflecting its distribution in temperate Australia.