Ruddy darter facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruddy darter
Male
Female
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Genus:	Sympetrum
Species:	sanguineum

The ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) is a type of dragonfly that belongs to the Libellulidae family. These dragonflies are known for their bright colors, especially the males.

Where Does the Ruddy Darter Live?

You can find the ruddy darter in many places across Europe, stretching all the way east to Siberia and south to the northern parts of the Sahara desert. Their numbers are stable, and they even seem to be growing in some areas, like central England.

They live in many countries, including Albania, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United Kingdom.

What Kind of Home Does it Like?

This dragonfly prefers calm water spots. These places usually have lots of plants growing partly in the water, like rushes and reeds. These plants provide good places for the dragonflies to rest and hunt.

What Does a Ruddy Darter Look Like?

Male, dorsal view

The ruddy darter is a medium-sized dragonfly. It can grow to be about 34 to 36 millimeters long. Its wingspan can reach up to 6 centimeters. These dragonflies are a bit smaller than the well-known Common Darter.

They have black legs, which helps tell them apart from other similar dragonflies. Their wings have a brown spot called a pterostigma and are orange near where they connect to the body. You can also see two clear black marks on the last two parts of their abdomen (body).

When male ruddy darters grow up, their head, middle body part (called the thorax), and main body (called the abdomen) turn a bright red color. Females are a bit smaller and are a golden-yellow color with black markings. The males' blood-red color gets stronger as they get older. Their abdomen gets wider towards the end and has a noticeable pinched part where it joins the thorax.

The all-black legs of the ruddy darter are a key feature. This helps you tell them apart from the very similar common darter (Sympetrum striolatum) and vagrant darter (Sympetrum vulgatum). Both of those species have yellow stripes on their legs. Another dragonfly, the spotted darter (Sympetrum depressiusculum), also has all-black legs. However, its abdomen looks more like a club, and its wing spots are brighter.

Life Cycle of the Ruddy Darter

You can usually spot ruddy darters flying around from June to November. When they mate, the male and female fly together over the water. The female then drops her fertilized eggs onto the water's surface by moving her abdomen up and down. The male often stays nearby to protect her from other males.

The young dragonflies, called larvae, spend about a year living underwater. After this time, they come out of the water and change into adult dragonflies. This process is called pupating.

Images for kids

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  Mating pair

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  Newly emerged male

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  Almost adult male

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  Adult male

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  Adult male, head-on view

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  Almost adult female