Common Darter
Sympetrum striolatum

Yorkshire Branch
of the British Dragonfly Society

 

Status | Photos | Distribution Maps

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.

Exuvia

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.

Common Darter Distribution

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Web Author: Paul Ashton - ©  Yorkshire Branch of the British Dragonfly Society 2005-2008 including all images unless otherwise stated.
http://www.yorkshiredragonflies.org.uk