Crocothemis erythraea
Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé, 1832)
Local names: Broad scarlet, Common scarlet-darter, Scarlet darter, Scarlet dragonfly, Feuerlibelle, Vuurlibel, Libellule écarlate, Crocothémis écarlate
Species Information
Description
The males in this species are completely red, with head, eyes and abdomen bright red and thorax red to brown red. The immature males and females are brown-yellow with yellow legs. In some rare cases, the females have a colour similar to the males, in any event with some parts being brown yellow. The abdomen of Crocothemis erythraea is widened at the base and flattened and is often crossed by a thin dark line. The terminal appendages are closely spaced in the males and spaced apart in the females. The wings are transparent with a large amber-yellow patch at the base of the hind wings and a small one on the fore wings. Pterostigma are very long and light-brown in colour. This species tends to mate in flight, although it might happen that the couple lands or perches. However, unlike most of the other species in the family Libellulidae, the mating only lasts a short time and immediately afterwards the females lay their eggs with the male flying around protecting her.
The amber-yellow patch on the wings, the broad body and the absence of black on the legs, head and thorax separate this species from all others except Crocothemis servilia.
Size
Habitat
The species occurs in a wide range of running and standing unshaded waters, including rice paddies and brackish lagoons. In the northern part of its range, it is mostly found in well-vegetated waters of reasonably shallow depth. Seeks out warmer micro-climates in the north.
Distribution
An African and south-east Asian species extending its range into Europe. Once only common in the Mediterranean region but is now becoming an increasingly common sight further north. It is now common in most of southern and central Europe. The lack of records parts of south-east Europe is largely due to insufficient fieldwork. The species has expanded northwards in recent decades and had a first sighting in Sweden in 2019 and is expected to continue its expansion northwards in the coming decades.
Flight Period
April to October
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Crocothemis servilia
External Links
Genus: Crocothemis
Crocothemis is a genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family. Various species of this genus occur in southern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Southwest Pacific. They are generally small to medium-sized dragonflies.
Identification
Mature males are completely bright scarlet, except for blue undersides of eyes. Both sexes are almost devoid of black markings, although abdomen often has a narrow dorsal black line. The unmarked pale legs are usually diagnostic. The pterostigma is large and pale, and the hindwing has a broad saffron base.
Separation from other genera
With the exception of some Turkish Sympetrum, all other libellulids have some black on the legs. In the field, Crocothemis males also appear brighter, broader and bolder than other red libellulids. Red Sympetrum species are a less pure red, smaller and more slender-bodied and have a less powerful flight, their eyes and thorax are often brown, and there are black markings on all body parts. Most likely to be confused with the bright and active S. fonscolombii. Red Trithemis are similarly gaudy but smaller. Brownish specimens may be taken for Orthetrum. That genus has some black on legs and, at most, some faint yellow at hindwing base.
Separation of the species
Our two species overlap only in a small area, but both may breed in the same water. Easy to separate at emergence. Mature individuals, however, are impossible to separate on the wing, requiring examination with a hand lens or microscope.
Behaviour
Male behaves conspicuously, keenly defending a territory with fast flights from a prominent perch. Male guards female during oviposition, rather than holding her in tandem in the manner of Sympetrum species.
Family: Libellulidae
The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded, there still remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of all dragonflies.
The genus Libellula is mostly New World, but also has one of the few endangered odonates from Japan: Libellula angelina. Many of the members of this genus are brightly colored or have banded wings. The related genus Plathemis includes the whitetails. The genus Celithemis contains several brightly marked species in the southern United States. Members of the genus Sympetrum are called darters (or meadowhawks in North America) and are found throughout most of the world, except Australia. Several Southern Hemisphere species in the genera Trithemis and Zenithoptera are especially beautiful. Other common genera include Tramea and Pantala.
The libellulids have stout-bodied larvae with the lower lip or labium developed into a mask over the lower part of the face.
The family name may have been derived from the Latin libella which means booklet.