Photos

Various photos of Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum, many taken in gardens away from water.

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  Female, Kempston
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  Female, Kempston
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  Female, Kempston
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  Female, Kempston
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  Female, Kempston
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  Female, Kempston
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  Female, Kempston

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  Female, Kempston
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  Male, River Great Ouse, Kempston Church End
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  Male, Biddenham Country Loop walk
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  Male, Biddenham Country Loop walk
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  Over mature female, Biddenham Country Loop walk
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  Female, Kempston
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  Male, Kempston

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  Immature male, River Great Ouse, Kempston Church End
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  Immature male, River Great Ouse, Kempston Church End
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  Immature male, River Great Ouse, Kempston Church End
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  Female, Biddenham Loop Country Walk

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Main features

One of many reddish male/yellow female Darter species, but in Bedfordshire it's most likely to be confused with the Ruddy Darter - Sympetrum sanguineum.

Look out for the straight abdomen in males (the ruddy has a narrow "waist"), yellow patches on the thorax beneath the wings, closer inspection shows the Common Darters' black and yellow striped legs and very little yellow coloration to the base of the wings.

Females darken with age, becoming a dull brown. Immature males are yellowish like the female.

Habitat

Pretty much anywhere there is clean water, rivers, ponds and lakes, gravel pits. Common away from water when not breeding.

Where to see

Bedfordshire's most common dragonfly species, most rivers and ponds will support a number of them.

Visible from mid June through to November - a long season.