Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum
Length
37mm, Wings 57mm.
Males
Thorax brown with yellow patches on sides; abdomen orange/red with black central line last 2 segments ; legs black/yellow; eyes brownish; black line top of frons only.
Females
Thorax pale brown with yellow side panels; abdomen yellow with black central line segments 9-10 and along sides. Old females tend to take on male colours.
Gallery
Habitat
Any water.
Behavior
Find many males together over water. Eggs laid in tandem, eggs flipped into water. Larvae 1 year.
Flight Period
Mid-June to October. Found throughout England and Wales except very high ground.
