Vagrant Emperor vs South American Locust

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Vagrant Emperor South American Locust
Scientific Name Anax ephippiger Schistocerca cancellata
Order Odonata Orthoptera
Family Aeshnidae Acrididae
Size 60-70 mm 45-65 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Deserts & Drylands
Diet Omnivores Herbivores
Regions Africa, Europe, Asia Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Vagrant Emperor

A nomadic dragonfly that wanders vast distances across Africa, Europe, and Asia. It has a sandy-brown body with a distinctive blue saddle marking on the abdomen.

💡

Did You Know?

It is one of the most migratory dragonflies, regularly crossing the Sahara Desert and reaching northern Europe.

South American Locust

A major swarming locust of South America closely related to the desert locust. It periodically forms devastating swarms across Argentina, Bolivia, and Paraguay.

💡

Did You Know?

After decades of suppression, this species made an unexpected resurgence in Argentina in 2015, forming swarms not seen since the 1950s.