Swamp Darner vs San Francisco Forktail Damselfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Swamp Darner | San Francisco Forktail Damselfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Austroaeschna parvistigma | Ischnura gemina |
| Order | Odonata | Odonata |
| Family | Aeshnidae | Coenagrionidae |
| Size | Body 5-6 cm; wingspan 7-8 cm | 2.5-3 cm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Ponds & Lakes |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Australia | United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Endangered |
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.
Did You Know?
Males patrol low along creeks in deep shade, a behavior unusual among dragonflies that typically prefer sun.
San Francisco Forktail Damselfly
A tiny damselfly restricted to a few freshwater ponds near the San Francisco Bay coast. It is threatened by urban encroachment and invasive plants.
Did You Know?
This species is nearly identical to the common Pacific forktail and can only be distinguished by close examination.