| Sympetrum
fonscolombii |
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Common Name:
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Red-veined Darter |
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Odonata |
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Order:
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Odonata |
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Suborder:
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Anisoptera |
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Family:
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Libellulidae |
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Genus:
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Sympetrum |
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Species:
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S. fonscolombii |
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| The
Name |
| Sympetrum fonscolombii (Selys, 1840),
the Red-veined Darter, is a dragonfly of the genus Sympetrum. It is a common
species in southern Europe and from the 1990s onwards has increasingly
been found in northwest Europe, including Britain and Ireland. Its name
is sometimes spelt fonscolombei instead of fonscolombii but Askew (2004)
gives the latter as the correct spelling. There is genetic and behavioural
evidence that S. fonscolombii is not closely related to the other members
of the Sympetrum genus and will at some time in the future be removed from
this genus.
This species is most similar to the
Ruddy Darter but can be distinguished by the red or yellow wing veins along
the leading edge of the basal half of each wing and the unwaisted abdomen.
Male S. fonscolombii can be mistaken
for Crocothemis erythraea as both are very red dragonflies with yellow
bases to the wings, red veins and pale pterostigma. However C. erythraea
has no black on the legs, a broader body and no black on the head. Also
C. erythraea females do not oviposit in tandem. The jizz of these two species
is different and with some experience are easy to tell apart.
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| The
Characteristics |
| S. fonscolombii is a medium-sized
dragonfly with body length 33-40mm and hindwing length 26-31mm; in fact,
for a Darter it's quite large and heavy-looking.
It is similar to other Sympetrum
species but a good view with binoculars should give a positive identification,
especially with a male. Males have a red abdomen, redder than many other
Sympetrum species. The wings have red veins and the wing bases of the hind-wings
are yellow. The pterostigma are pale with a border of black veins and the
underside of the eye is blue/grey. The female is similar but the abdomen
is yellow, not red, and the wings have yellow veins, not red veins as found
in the males. The legs of both sexes are mostly black with some yellow.
Immature males are like females but often with more red.
Sympetrum fonscolombii is a very
pretty, easily recognisable species; besides the male's deep red colour
and red wing-veins (both of which are yellow in females and immature males),
and a whitish patch on the side of the male's thorax, the most distinguishing
feature is the blue underside of the eyes.
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| The
Reproduction and Development |
S. fonscolombii can be seen on the
wing throughout the year around the Mediterranean and in the south of its
range, however, its main flight period is May to October and it is scarce
during the winter months. It is a territorial species with the males often
sitting on an exposed perch. After copulation the pair stay in tandem for
egg laying and pairs can be seen over open water with the female dipping
her abdomen into the water depositing eggs. Pairs are known to fly over
the sea in tandem dipping into the salt water where the eggs soon perish.
The eggs and larvae develop rapidly and S. fonscolombii unlike most other
european dragonflies has more than one generation a year.
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| The
Distribution |
| Occurs in much of central and southern
Europe including most Mediterranean islands, in Africa, the Middle East
and south-western Asia including India, Sri lanka, and Mongolia. In Europe
it is resident in the south of its range but in some years it migrates
northward and has been found as far north as Belgium, Sweden, Poland and
northern England. It is the only libellulid to be found in the Azores and
it is also found on the Canary islands and Madeira.
It is found in all sorts of still
water but being a migrant it is often found away from water. It has been
seen flying over the sea.
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| The
Protection Status |
| Common. |
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References:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red-veined_darter
http://www.habitas.org.uk/dragonflyireland/5647.htm
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The
Species on Stamps |
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