Size: Wingspan approximately 57mm with a body length of between 35mm and 44mm.

Habitat: The common darter is found around most bodies of water, including rivers, lakes and ponds. It is absent from shaded or polluted areas.

Distribution: Eurasia.

UK Distribution: Common throughout England, Wales and Ireland; sporadacillay spread out throughout most of Scotland.

Rarity: Common.

Description: The male common darter is red overall, with broad yellow stripes on the side of the thorax. The legs are black with a yellow stripe down the outer edges, and the sides of the abdomen show some degree of black markings. Females are dull yellow, becoming darker as they age.

Distinguishing Features: The common darter is similar in appearance to the Ruddy Darter, Sympetrum sanguineum. However, the latter exhibits all black legs, deep red colouring, a more bulbous abdomen at the top and towards the tip, and is generally smaller overall size. All other native red darters have coloured patches or bands on their wings, other than the rare migrants; the Vagrant Darter, Sympetrum vulgatum, and the Southern Darter, Sympetrum meridionale. In both these species the black on the frons (forehead) extends further down the face than it does in the common darter.

My experiences: I have encountered common darters in many places, and the males appear to be very cooperative for photographs. Often landing nearby, they sometimes fly off a few times before coming to land peacefully and allowing me to approach. As with many insects, it is best to move slowly and with small movements. My most recent encounter, a trip to the Avon River in Keynsham, allowed me to get up close with a mating pair, as they landed in their classic mating wheel position (the males abdomen grasping the female behind the neck, with the tip of the females abdomen curved under the males thorax).

Kingdom - Animalia
Phylum - Arthropoda
Clade - Pancrustacea
Class - Insecta
Order - Odonata
Infraorder - Anisoptera
Superfamily - Libelluloidea
Family - Libellulidae
Genus - Sympetrum
Species - Sympetrum striolatum