Green Lestes vs Tooth Cave Ground Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green Lestes Tooth Cave Ground Beetle
Scientific Name Lestes viridis Rhadine persephone
Order Odonata Coleoptera
Family Lestidae Carabidae
Size 39-48 mm body length 0.5-0.7 cm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Caves
Diet Predators Predators
Regions Europe United States
Conservation Least Concern Endangered

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.

💡

Did You Know?

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

Tooth Cave Ground Beetle

A tiny eyeless ground beetle found only in a few limestone caves near Austin, Texas. It is a specialized predator of other cave invertebrates.

💡

Did You Know?

It is completely blind and has never been found outside of the total darkness of cave systems.