Shropshire Birder
Dragonflies and Damselflies of Shropshire
Sample menu:
Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)
Favouring well vegetated still water in a variety of habitats, another species with a late but long period on the wing, from July to October. The male is quite striking and easily distinguished from the Common darter by the deep blood red colouration of the abdomen and the 'waisted' shape, immature males are yellow ochre. Females have a less 'waisted' appearance and can be tricky to separate. Both sexes have more black markings on the side of the abdomen than the Common Darter and have a black T on the top of the thorax.
A male showing the distinct body shape and deep red coloration, black marks on the side ....
A head on shot of the same male- note the black 'T' on the top of the thorax....
The body shape, again quite distinctive in these two angles of a male at Berrington Pool ....
Another view, heavy black markings on the side of the abdomen.....
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