Green Lestes vs Snapping Amblyopone

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green Lestes Snapping Amblyopone
Scientific Name Lestes viridis Stigmatomma oregonense
Order Odonata Hymenoptera
Family Lestidae Formicidae
Size 39-48 mm body length 3-5 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Forests
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe Western North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Green Lestes

A metallic green damselfly that lays eggs into the bark of overhanging trees. Creates distinctive oviposition scars on willow branches. One of the latest damselflies to fly.

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Did You Know?

Uniquely among damselflies, it lays its eggs into tree bark above water rather than into aquatic plants.

Snapping Amblyopone

A pale, blind subterranean ant of western North American forests that hunts centipedes and other soil arthropods. Like other dracula ants, it feeds on the hemolymph of its larvae.

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Did You Know?

They are specialist predators of centipedes, which they paralyze with their sting before feeding them to larvae.