Common Darter
by
Shop
Sympetrum striolatum
Common & widespread in Britain & Ireland.
Flies from July-November.
Females and Teneral individuals have light yellow thorax and abdomen.
Males turn red as they mature.
Females darken with age, becoming a dark chocolate brown, and sometimes develop a blue colouration to the bottom of the abdomen.
The wings also develop a brown tinge with age.
In all cases the legs have a cream or yellow stripe on a black background - this is a diagnostic feature of this species.
The pterostigma of the females can be red, blue, pale blue or brown.
The Highland Darter is a northern subspecies found in Scotland.