The ruddy darter is to be found in temperate regions throughout Europe[1] as far east as Siberia and as far south as the northern Sahara. Its conservation status is regarded as secure, and indeed numbers seem to be increasing in some locations such as central England. [2]
It is present in the following countries: Albania; Algeria; Armenia; Austria; Azerbaijan; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Ireland; Italy; Kazakhstan; Kyrgyzstan; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of; Moldova; Monaco; Montenegro; Morocco; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Russian Federation; Serbia; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Tajikistan; Tunisia; Turkmenistan; Ukraine; United Kingdom; Uzbekistan. [2]
Habitatedit
This species tends to prefer quiet bodies of water that feature semiaquatic vegetation[2] such as rushes and reeds.
Descriptionedit
Male, dorsal view
The ruddy darter can reach a body length of 34–36 millimetres (1.3–1.4 in)[3] and attains a wingspan of up to 6 cm. These dragonflies are smaller than the Common Darter. They have black legs and the wings show a brown pterostigma and an orange color at the base of the wings. Two evident black marks are located on segments S8 and S9 of the abdomen.[3]
The head, thorax and abdomen of the mature male are vivid red, while the female is slightly smaller, and is a golden-yellow colour with black markings. The blood-red color of the males develop with maturity, together with a red frons and a red-brown thorax. [3] The abdomen widens for the final third of its length and shows a marked pinched section where it joins the thorax.
The all-black legs of the ruddy darter distinguish it from the otherwise very similar common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and vagrant darter (Sympetrum vulgatum), both of which show yellow stripes on their legs. The spotted darter (Sympetrum depressiusculum) with all-black legs has noticeably more clubbed abdomen and brighter pterostigmata.
Life cycleedit
The ruddy darter can be found between the months of June and November. [3]Mating takes place on the wing, with the coupled pair performing a dipping flight over the water. The female jettisons her fertilised eggs at the water surface by alternating movements of the abdomen. The male may hover nearby during this period and protect the female by driving off any approaching males.
The larvae spend the year beneath the water surface before emerging and pupating into adults.
Galleryedit
Mating pair
Jettisoning eggs
Newly emerged male
Almost adult male
Adult male
Adult male, head-on view
Almost adult female
Referencesedit
Wikispecies has information related to Ruddy darter.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sympetrum sanguineum.
ruddy, darter, ruddy, darter, sympetrum, sanguineum, species, dragonfly, family, libellulidae, male, female, conservation, status, least, concern, iucn, scientific, classification, domain, eukaryota, kingdom, animalia, phylum, arthropoda, class, insecta, order. The ruddy darter Sympetrum sanguineum is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae Ruddy darter Male Female Conservation status Least Concern IUCN 3 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Arthropoda Class Insecta Order Odonata Infraorder Anisoptera Family Libellulidae Genus Sympetrum Species S sanguineum Binomial name Sympetrum sanguineum Muller 1764 Contents 1 Distribution 2 Habitat 3 Description 4 Life cycle 5 Gallery 6 ReferencesDistribution editThe ruddy darter is to be found in temperate regions throughout Europe 1 as far east as Siberia and as far south as the northern Sahara Its conservation status is regarded as secure and indeed numbers seem to be increasing in some locations such as central England 2 It is present in the following countries Albania Algeria Armenia Austria Azerbaijan Belarus Belgium Bosnia and Herzegovina Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Estonia Finland France Germany Greece Hungary Ireland Italy Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Latvia Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macedonia the former Yugoslav Republic of Moldova Monaco Montenegro Morocco Netherlands Norway Poland Portugal Romania Russian Federation Serbia Slovakia Slovenia Spain Sweden Switzerland Tajikistan Tunisia Turkmenistan Ukraine United Kingdom Uzbekistan 2 Habitat editThis species tends to prefer quiet bodies of water that feature semiaquatic vegetation 2 such as rushes and reeds Description edit nbsp Male dorsal view The ruddy darter can reach a body length of 34 36 millimetres 1 3 1 4 in 3 and attains a wingspan of up to 6 cm These dragonflies are smaller than the Common Darter They have black legs and the wings show a brown pterostigma and an orange color at the base of the wings Two evident black marks are located on segments S8 and S9 of the abdomen 3 The head thorax and abdomen of the mature male are vivid red while the female is slightly smaller and is a golden yellow colour with black markings The blood red color of the males develop with maturity together with a red frons and a red brown thorax 3 The abdomen widens for the final third of its length and shows a marked pinched section where it joins the thorax The all black legs of the ruddy darter distinguish it from the otherwise very similar common darter Sympetrum striolatum and vagrant darter Sympetrum vulgatum both of which show yellow stripes on their legs The spotted darter Sympetrum depressiusculum with all black legs has noticeably more clubbed abdomen and brighter pterostigmata Life cycle editThe ruddy darter can be found between the months of June and November 3 Mating takes place on the wing with the coupled pair performing a dipping flight over the water The female jettisons her fertilised eggs at the water surface by alternating movements of the abdomen The male may hover nearby during this period and protect the female by driving off any approaching males The larvae spend the year beneath the water surface before emerging and pupating into adults Gallery edit nbsp Mating pair source source source source source source Jettisoning eggs nbsp Newly emerged male nbsp Almost adult male nbsp Adult male nbsp Adult male head on view nbsp Almost adult femaleReferences edit nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Ruddy darter nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sympetrum sanguineum Fauna Europaea a b c IUCN a b c d BDS British Dragonfly Society nbsp This article related to dragonflies is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ruddy darter amp oldid 1182089247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
