Scarlet dragonfly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Scarlet dragonfly |
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| Male, Cyprus | |
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| Female, Bulgaria | |
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The scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a beautiful species of dragonfly. It belongs to a group of dragonflies called the Libellulidae family. People also call it the broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, or just scarlet darter. These dragonflies are known for their bright red color, especially the males!
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Where Scarlet Dragonflies Live
The scarlet dragonfly is quite common in many parts of the world. You can find them across southern Europe and all over Africa. They also live in western Asia, reaching as far as southern China.
Sometimes, these dragonflies travel far from their usual homes. They are very rare visitors to Britain. The first time one was officially seen there was on August 7, 1995, in Cornwall. Since then, a few more have been spotted in different places across Britain.
What Their Home Looks Like
Scarlet dragonflies like to live near water. They can be found near many types of water, like rivers, streams, and ponds. They prefer sunny spots, not places that are too shady.
Even though they need water, adult dragonflies can fly quite far from it. You might see them in different places, from dry deserts to open forests. However, they usually avoid very dense forests. They need open spaces to fly and hunt for food.
What Scarlet Dragonflies Look Like
Crocothemis erythraea dragonflies are usually between 33 and 44 millimeters long. That's about the length of a few paperclips! They have a body that is a bit flat and wide.
Male Scarlet Dragonflies
Adult male scarlet dragonflies are easy to spot. They have a very bright, fiery red body, especially their wide abdomen. Their hindwings have small amber (yellow-orange) patches near where they connect to the body. Even the veins on the front edges of their wings are red!
Female and Young Scarlet Dragonflies
Female scarlet dragonflies and younger ones look different from the adult males. They are usually yellow-brown in color. They also have a clear, pale stripe running along the top of their thorax (the middle part of their body). Sometimes, older females can also turn a reddish color, but usually not as bright as the males.
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Male scarlet dragonfly
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A red female scarlet dragonfly
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Female scarlet dragonfly
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