Iris Flea Beetle vs Hine's Emerald Dragonfly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Iris Flea Beetle Hine's Emerald Dragonfly
Scientific Name Aphthona nonstriata Somatochlora hineana
Order Coleoptera Odonata
Family Chrysomelidae Corduliidae
Size 2-3 mm 5-6 cm
Habitat Wetlands Wetlands
Diet Root Feeders Predators
Regions Europe United States
Conservation Least Concern Endangered

Iris Flea Beetle

A small blue-green flea beetle associated with yellow iris in wetland habitats. Larvae feed on iris roots underwater. A specialized member of the wetland beetle community.

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Did You Know?

Larvae can survive submerged among iris roots, extracting oxygen from the waterlogged plant tissue.

Hine's Emerald Dragonfly

A brilliant green-eyed emerald dragonfly found in calcareous spring-fed wetlands. It is one of the most endangered dragonflies in North America.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae take two to four years to develop in the cold, mineral-rich groundwater of fens.