White-faced Darter vs Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute White-faced Darter Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly
Scientific Name Leucorrhinia dubia Ischnura pumilio
Order Odonata Odonata
Family Libellulidae Coenagrionidae
Size 33-37mm 26-31 mm body length
Habitat Underground Wetlands
Diet Predators Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia Western Europe, Central Europe, Southern Europe
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

White-faced Darter

A small dragonfly with a distinctive white face and red markings on a dark body. It is a specialist of acidic bog pools with Sphagnum moss. Males hover over pools displaying their white face.

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Did You Know?

It is so dependent on intact peatland bogs that its presence indicates a healthy, undrained peat ecosystem.

Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly

One of Europe's smallest damselflies, with a black body and a single blue segment near the tail tip. Females come in a remarkable variety of colour forms.

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Did You Know?

It specialises in colonising new and temporary water bodies that other dragonflies avoid.