Black Darter

Sympetrum danae

Locally common around the British heathland.

The Male has a mainly black thorax and abdomen.

In Younger Males, the thorax has three diagonal yellow side marks separated by a bold black panel, and the abdomen has yellow marks on the side, that darken with age; fully mature Males are entirely black.

It is the only species of Sympetrum with no red on the Males.

Females and Teneral (newly emerged) Males are patterned black and yellow, with three diagonal yellow bars on the thorax and an extensively yellow upper side of the abdomen, becoming browner with age.

Flies from July-September.