Sympetrum sanguineum
Sympetrum sanguineum (Müller, 1764)
Local names: Ruddy darter, Blutrote Heidelibelle, Bloedrode heidelibel, Sympétrum rouge sang, Sympétrum sanguin, Blodröd ängstrollslända
Species Information
Description
This common dragonfly has all black legs. On average it is smaller than S. striolatum. In the males the abdomen is blood red more clubbed than most other darters. Also the frons is red.
S. danae also has a clubbed abdomen but is easily separated by the dark triangle upon the thorax upper side (and black coloration in mature males)
Confusion is most likely with the generally scarce S. depressiusculum. The red frons together with the small but distinct yellow patch at the base of the wings, and the males uniformly coloured thorax should assist field identification.
Notably variable in Turkey. In south-west Turkey it has much yellow in the wings, especially around the nodes, more strongly so in the females. These individuals recall S. flaveolum, but always have all-black legs. Towards the east, probably at higher altitudes, it has prominent yellow streaks on all femora. This variety, sometimes considered a ssp armeniacum, does hav all-black tibiae.
Size
Habitat
Sympetrum sanguineum occurs in a wide range of standing or slow-flowing waters, preferring those with a rich aquatic and bank side vegetation. It is mostly found in permanent , not too shallow, largely unshaded waters, often near bushes or trees. Habitats include lakes, oxbows, excavations, garden ponds, fens, ditches, canals and slow-flowing stretches of rivers. The species is generally absent or scarce in acidic water bodies with Sphagnum peat moss and in habitats with little vegetation such as newly created ponds.
Distribution
Sympetrum sanguineum is widespread across large parts of Europe, reaching east to central Siberia. The species is one of the most common and abundant throughout much of its range. In Africa it is confined to the coastal parts of the northern Maghreb and to the Rif mountains in Morocco. In Europe it is abundant in most of its range. To the south it becomes rare in more arid regions of the Mediterranean and in the north it is limited by cold, being absent from most of Scotland and the two northern thirds of Fennoscandia. Its apparent low density in the central parts of Ukraine is likely to be due to lack of field surveys in those countries.
Flight Period
June to October
Behavior
Flight is relatively bouncy and dancing. Often found among emeralds in vegetation rich shorelines to a bit away from the water in half-heigh vegetation. Males keep a lookout over their territories from a suitable vantage. They like to return to the same vantage after dashing after females or chasing away other males. The species is mobile and is especially younger individuals are often found far from water.
Oviposits in tandem, among vegetation above the shoreline that will become flooded in early spring, or onto wet mud. Eggs are not hatched until next spring and larval development is quick. It takes only about two months from the eggs hatched to the emergence of the imagos. Exuviae are left a few decimetres up on straws i tufts of sedge, reed or the likes out in the water or along the shoreline.
Conservation Status
Similar Species
Sympetrum depressiusculum, Sympetrum danae
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.