Common Darter, Sympetrum striolatum
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Size
Medium to small sized; body length 25mm to 30mm.
Colour-patterning
Males
have a brown thorax with broad, yellow, oblique bands on the sides and a pair of weak, dirty yellow stripes immediately behind the eyes. The abdomen is weakly constricted one third of the way down and is brick to blood red with a black marking down the midline on the two penultimate segments. The wings are pigmented pink to red at their extreme bases and become tinted amber in older specimens. Females
are similar to the males but their abdomens are a yellow to mid brown colour.
Behaviour
Males are aggressively territorial, taking up perches over their selected patch and, between seeing off intruding males, will spend time foraging for food often at some distance from water. It likes to return frequently to its adopted perches overlooking its territory but also likes to bask in the sun on favoured stones or other flat surfaces. Although it often rests with its wings out flat it will also position them forwards and downwards but not to the same extent as the Keeled Skimmer, Orthetrum coerulescens. Mating takes place on a perch. Mated pairs remain in tandem, with the male gripping the female immediately behind the head, as they search for suitable egg-laying sites in floating vegetation around the margins of ponds and pools.
Where to look for it
Virtually anywhere where there is still or slow moving water. It will tolerate brackish conditions and is a common species associated with garden ponds. The Common Darter can often be seen some distance from water especially in sunny rides and glades in woodland. It is particularly common in Efford Marsh and Forder Valley Local Nature Reserves and places such as Newnham Public Open Space where there are suitable ponds.
Distribution and status
Very common and widespread throughout Plymouth.
When to look for it
It emerges rather late in the year in June but is abundant through to October and may even be seen in November.
Similar species
The combinations of size, dark markings on the two penultimate dorsal segments, yellow bands on the side of the thorax and the weak thoracic stripes behind the eye should make this species unmistakeable.