Variable Damselfly vs Small Milkweed Bug
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Variable Damselfly | Small Milkweed Bug |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Coenagrion pulchellum | Lygaeus kalmii |
| Order | Odonata | Hemiptera |
| Family | Coenagrionidae | Lygaeidae |
| Size | 33-35mm | 10-12 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Grasslands |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | North America |
| Conservation | Near Threatened | Least Concern |
Variable Damselfly
A blue damselfly with highly variable black markings, making identification challenging. Males have a distinctive mercury or wine-glass shaped mark on the second abdominal segment. It favors sheltered waters.
Did You Know?
Its abdominal markings are so variable that no two individuals are exactly alike, earning it its common name.
Small Milkweed Bug
A boldly patterned red-and-black seed bug that feeds on milkweed seeds and sequesters toxic cardiac glycosides. Its warning coloration advertises its chemical defense to predators.
Did You Know?
It stores milkweed toxins in its body, making it taste terrible to birds and other predators that try to eat it.