Sympetrum flaveolum
Sympetrum flaveolum (Linnaeus, 1758)
Local names: Yellow-winged darter, Gefleckte Heidelibelle, Geelvlekheidelibel, Sympétrum jaune d'or, Gulfläckad ängstrollslända
Species Information
Description
This species can be easily identified by the conspicuous yellow patch at the base of the hind wings, often extending up to the node. The fore wing is usually also yellow at the base, although less broadly so. The legs are black with yellow stripes.
Wing venation is black Male abdomen is slender, very straight-sided, not clubbed, deep orange rather than pure red, and have a complete black line running on each side of the abdomen.
Female abdomen is yellow, bluish-grey underneath and has typically a complete black line on each side. This line is usually partially interrupted in other species. Females vary quiet frequently, about 1 in 20 have reduced yellow on the wings.
The yellow wing bases may cause confusion with S. fonscolombii but S. flaveolum has darker wing venation and pterostigma. It does not overlap with yellow-winged Trithemis kirbyi.
Size
Habitat
In the core of its European range, S. flaveolum is found in a wide range of standing waters, which are neither too eutrophic nor heavily shaded. In the west and the south, it shows a strong preference for standing waters with shallow banks, which partially or completely dry out during summer. Suitable conditions occur at temporary flooded meadows, shallow dune lakes and small depressions in fen lands, bogs and quarries. The stable mountain populations of southern and western Europe are found at Sphagnum peat bogs, small alkaline or acidic lakes and temporary ponds.
Distribution
Sympetrum flaveolum occurs in the cold temperate zone of Eurasia and is common and abundant in most of its range. It is generally confined to mountains in the south of its range. The species is common and abundant in large parts of eastern and central Europe and the southern half of Fennoscandia. It has a permanent presence in most of the mountainous areas in western and parts of southern Europe, including the Pyrenees, the Massif Central, the Alps and the Dinaric Alps. Its occurrence in the lowlands of western and southern Europe is largely dependent on influxes from central and eastern Europe, which are associated with eastern winds. These invasions, such as those in 1995 and 2006, can be substantial and often result in the establishment of numerous temporary populations. In 1995, swarms of several tens of thousands of individuals reached Great Britain and there was a single record for Ireland. The resulting lowland populations are short-lived and in most cases become extinct after a few years. This pattern of influxes followed by decline and extinction is especially evident in Great Britain, with the species being absent or very rare in years between influxes.
Flight Period
May to October
Behavior
This species is invasive in large parts of its range. It may be absent in a particular area for long periods, breeding there for a few years after the arrival of large swarms or migrants.
It can usually be found easily by going out in tufty, partly flooded pastures or grassland. Males will keep a small territory and under good years a lot of them their density will be relatively high. Males perch 20-50 cm up on vantage points in or between tufts, often returning tot he same after short dashes. They are very hardy and will keep their territory even on windier days. Those days they perch harder and one can come quite close to them.
Females are found in the same environment as the males but most of them are found a bit further away, in neighbouring vegetation. Flight is weak, bouncing or dancing in the air, reminiscent of a demoiselle.
Eggs are oviposited in vegetation that stands on dry land but will be flooded in early spring, when they hatch. Larval development is quick and can in hot summers be even quicker. Exuviae are left low and exposed in or very near water.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Sympetrum fonscolombii
External Links
Genus: Sympetrum
Sympetrum is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere. Most Sympetrum fly in late summer and autumn, breeding in ponds and foraging over meadows.
Identification
Rather small libellulids. Mature males, with the exception of a black species, have an abdomen which is a shade of red. Black markings are variable, but usually at least present as traces on the thorax sutures, legs and abdomen. Hindwing base is clear or marked with yellow or amber.
Separation from other genera
The only smaller libellulids without a dark hindwing patch and often a red abdomen in much of our range. Crocothemis legs lack any black and the abdomen is broader (only some Turkish Sympetrum have almost no black on their legs). Red Trithemis are similar in stature but mature males have a much brighter appearance. Brachythemis has a plump, cylindrical abdomen.
Separation of the species
A large and often common genus. Many species can cause identification problems, especially when observing with binoculars only. In most areas, the difficulty will focus on the pair S. striolatum - S. vulgatum, but along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts in particular up to four similar species may overlap. These vary in the extent of the black markings, and this has led to taxonomic problems.
Behaviour
All darters behave similarly. They spend most of their time on a prominent perch, from which short dashes are undertaken to chase prey or rivals. Males often attain high densities along the water's edge, defending a small 'private space' around themselves rather than a territory. Oviposition always commences in tandem, but species differ somewhat in their mode of flight and choice of oviposition site.
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.