[329] Sympetrum striolatum, Common Darter

[329] Sympetrum striolatum, Common Darter

Introduction

Our last dragonfly Sympetrum striolatum, the Common Darter, is one of the most common dragonflies of Europe.

In parts of Scotland and Ireland one of its subspecies maybe called the Highland Darter

Taxonomy

Kingdom – Animals

Phylum – Arthropods

Class – Insects

Order – Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)

Infraorder – Anisoptera (Dragonflies)

Family – Libellulidae

Genus – Sympetrum

Scientific Name – Sympetrum striolatum

Name

Sympetrum comes from Greek syn-petra, meaning ‘with stone,’ perhaps from its habit of perching on stones.

Striolatum means grooved, striated or striped.

Description

The species of Sympetrum are very similar and difficult to identify.

Males of Sympetrum striolatum become dark orange-red but are yellow when they first emerge.

Females are yellow but darken to chocolate brown.

The legs of bth male and female have cream or yellow stripes on dark blue. This is a good identification feature.

They are not territorial and generally wait on the same perch for prey to pass by.

Habitat and use

The Common Darter is found over Eurasia and is common and widespread throughout the UK.

It is found in most still or slow-moving water habitats.

Other Notes

That’s the last of our Dragonflies and Damselflies. The best places to spot them are near still water such as lakes and canals. Most of my pictures come from a defunct canal in a local Nature Reserve.

If you want to spot them, pick a sunny day in late spring or summer. For newly emerging insects I think the time of day is important – I go around noon.