Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum
 A small dragonfly, very similar to the slightly larger Common Darter in many respects.
Mature males are bright red, with a 'waisted' abdomen and club-shaped tip, and lack prominent thorax stripes. Females and immature males almost identical to Common, so pay attention to features such as the all-black legs, and slightly larger (although still minimal) yellow patch at wing base.
When identifying symeptrum species, be aware of the rare Red-veined and Yellow-winged Darters.
Status of Ruddy Darter in Leicestershire & Rutland
Number of occupied 2km grid squares in Leicestershire & Rutland, up to the end of 2004: 91/720
A rather local and scattered distribution within the county due to its quite specific habitat requirements, but a marked increase over recent decades.
Historically this species seems to have had an even more local distribution than at present. Mendel (1980) cites just a handful of recorded occurrences, though Robertson (1953) recorded the Ruddy Darter as being ‘numerous along several hundred yards of the Grand Union Canal… in the Wigston and Kilby district’. |
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Distribution Map
Ruddy Darter 2004 |
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Ruddy Darter Habitat
Like the Emerald Damselfly, this species favours shallow water sites with dense stands of emergent vegetation and consequently the two species often occur side-by-side.
Flight period of Ruddy Darter
Ruddy Darter Photo Gallery
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