Steelblue Ladybird vs Hellgrammite

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Steelblue Ladybird Hellgrammite
Scientific Name Halmus chalybeus Nigronia serricornis
Order Coleoptera Megaloptera
Family Coccinellidae Corydalidae
Size 3-4 mm 40-60 mm wingspan
Habitat Orchards Rivers & Streams
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Australia, New Zealand Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Steelblue Ladybird

A small metallic blue-green ladybird native to Australia. It is an important predator of scale insects on citrus and eucalyptus trees.

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Did You Know?

Its iridescent blue coloration is unique among ladybirds and is caused by multilayer cuticle structures.

Hellgrammite

A dark-colored dobsonfly whose larvae, known as hellgrammites, are prized as fishing bait. Adults are smaller than Corydalus and have serrated antennae.

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Did You Know?

Hellgrammite larvae are so effective as fishing bait that they are commercially collected and sold to anglers.