Commonly named the Red-veined Darter
Body length: 38m to 40mm (1.5 to 1.6 inches)
Order: Odonata,
Flight period mainly: Late April to Early November.
Sympetrum fonscolombii is a common, widespread species. A resident (and more common) in the Mediterranean regions of Europe. Can also be found in the more northern regions of Europe, as far north as Britain and Sweden and over towards Poland in the East. But in these countries here it becomes much scarcer and will be rarely seen. It is most common in North Africa, the Middle East, and into south-western Asia including the Indian Subcontinent.
Habitat: The Red-veined Darter can be found in a large range of habitats, although preferring warm still waters, these often being open and shallow. It can also be found in ponds, lakes, marshes, coastal lagoons and slow flowing rivers.
Males are notably territorial and will often be seen observing on a exposed perch.
After copulation a pair can often be seen flying in tandem, with the female dipping her abdomen into the water depositing her eggs. The eggs and larvae develop within a few months and S. fonscolombii unlike most other European dragonflies has more than one generation a year. Some larvae will overwinter.
This species is similar to other Sympetrum species, especially Crocothemis Erythraea; as both males being bright red in overall appearance, closer inspection will give a positive identification especially as that species has no black on its face and legs.
Females have an ochre yellow abdomen. Immature males can be mistaken for females but often have more red and a single line on each side of the abdomen.