Sympetrum meridionale
Sympetrum meridionale (Selys, 1841)
Local names: Southern darter, Südliche Heidelibelle, Zuidelijke heidelibel, Sympétrum méridional, Ljusröd ängstrollslända
Species Information
Description
This species has a yellowish-brown thorax without any black markings except for two tiny dots surrounding the breathing spiracles on each side and thin black lines along the sutures. Often the abdomen of the males is also devoid of black markings. The legs are mainly yellow. The black band at the base of the frons is concealed by the vertex of the head and does not extend along the edges of the eyes. The wings are hyaline with no yellow or amber patches. It becomes even paler towards Central Asia.
Most likely to be confused with S. striolatum, with which it overlaps completely, but is much paler overall and is distinguished by:
- Black at base of frons so narrow it is concealed by vertex.
- Black along thorax sutures are very thin; clearest on fossae (pits on sutures near wing bases), resulting in two characteristic black drops on each side of thorax.
- Typically no (or reduced) black dashes on top of S8-S9.
- Legs predominantly yellow, rather than mainly black.
Greater care in identification is needed in Spain, northern Africa and Turkey, where similar species occur. In Turkey, S. vulgatum decoloratum, S. arenicolor and S. haritonovi are even paler (even with no black on back of head) and have clear structural differences. S. sinaiticum in Spain and northern Africa differs clearly structurally, too, and is somewhat blacker overall, with blue-grey instead of greenish undersides to the eyes and has characteristic black bars on each side of S2-S3. Pterostigma is rather large, especially to that of S. v. decoloratum.
A hand lens should eliminate any doubt:
- Hamule of male has longer and narrower hook and lobe than most species.
- Vulvar scale of female is more tightly pressed against the abdomen than in other species (hardly visible from side)
- Paired processes on underside of female S9 (just beyond vulvar scale) absent, unlike all similar Sympetrum, replaced by shallow depressions.
Size
Habitat
Sympetrum meridionale is typically found at sunny, shallow standing waters that often dry out during summer. Suitable habitats generally receive most of their water from winter rains, melt water or spring flooding. Habitats are in most cases densely vegetated and marshy and the species is, unlike many others in ephemeral habitats, not a typical pioneer. Suitable conditions for breeding are present in a range of habitats including brackish coastal lagoons, shallow dune lakes, shallow temporary ponds, pools in quarries, seasonally flooded depressions along rivers or lakes and large rain puddles in agricultural fields. Sympetrum meridionale is a lowlands species but in warm regions it requires forested upland refuges to aestivate before returning to its breeding sites after they are flooded by autumn rain.
Distribution
The range of Sympetrum meridionale is mainly in the southern half of Europe, Central and western Asia. In Africa the species is limited to the Maghreb, where it is sparesly distributed but can locally be abundant. It is common in the Mediterranean and in parts of central Europe. It shows strong regional differences in population density, being very abundant in parts of the Mediterranean coast, the Balkan Peninsula and along the western Black Sea coast. It is uncommon in most of the Iberian Peninsula and southern Italy and becomes increasingly scarce to rare north of Mid-France, the Alps and Hungary.
Flight Period
June to October
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Sympetrum striolatum, Sympetrum vulgatum decoloratum, Sympetrum arenicolor, Sympetrum haritonovi
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.