Rank Genus | Scientific name Sympetrum Higher classification Libellulidae | |
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Lower classifications Common darter, Ruddy darter, Vagrant darter, Red‑veined darter, Sympetrum danae | ||
Cardinal meadowhawk sympetrum illotum
Sympetrum is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no Sympetrum species is native to Australia.
Contents
Most North American darters fly in late summer and autumn, breeding in ponds and foraging over meadows. Commonly, they are yellow-gold as juveniles, with mature males and some females becoming bright red on part or all of their bodies. An exception to this color scheme is the black darter (Sympetrum danae).
The genus includes the following species:
Bloedrode heidelibel sympetrum sanguineum
References
Sympetrum Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA