Just had a look through Andrew McGeeney,"A complete guide to British Dragonflies" and I would suggest that this is a mature female Ruddy Darter.The common darter has dots on each segment, where as the Ruddy Darter has small straight lines just like yours?? sorry to confuse you any more, lets see if any one else comes in with some ideas.......Stewart
By process of elimination,this isn't a Black-tailed Skimmer which has clear wings and not the distinctive yellow markings near the base of the wings,which your one clearly does have.
I'd have to disagree with Stewart with it being a Ruddy Darter due to the colouration of it's legs which do appear to have a lighter stripe running down them,the Ruddy Darter would have completely black legs.
So,one possibility would be a Common Darter,but this species would normally have the yellow wing marking resticted to just a tiny basal spot near the base of the wings,whereas your image clearly shows the yellow marking extends further than just a small spot.The yellow striped legs that yours appears to have are certainly characteristic of this species though.
Then there's the Yellow-winged Darter,but your image clearly shows black pterostigma,wheras on the yellow-winged they're brown,so I'd safely count this one out too.
So,certainly not conclusive,but has certainly ruled out a few possibilities(hopefully).
Did you get any shots from different angles? An overhead shot showing the markings on the top of the thorax and abdomen would be useful,as would a clearer shot of the legs,just to see if they are definately yellow-striped.
Thanks for posting the different angles.
If I were a gambling man (which I'm not) I'd put my money on a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum),with this being an over-mature female.
After looking again, & reading the other comments, i still believe this to be a common darter. A side on view, showing the vulvar scale at the tip of the tail i think would clinch it!
An interesting thread.
Regards Rob.
Discussion
11 repliesAdvise please Cheers MJ
Rob
Nicely Exposed and presented too.
I found this one in my back garden. It appears they are quite scarce.
MJ
Phillip.
Regards Rob.
Just had a look through Andrew McGeeney,"A complete guide to British Dragonflies" and I would suggest that this is a mature female Ruddy Darter.The common darter has dots on each segment, where as the Ruddy Darter has small straight lines just like yours?? sorry to confuse you any more, lets see if any one else comes in with some ideas.......Stewart
By process of elimination,this isn't a Black-tailed Skimmer which has clear wings and not the distinctive yellow markings near the base of the wings,which your one clearly does have.
I'd have to disagree with Stewart with it being a Ruddy Darter due to the colouration of it's legs which do appear to have a lighter stripe running down them,the Ruddy Darter would have completely black legs.
So,one possibility would be a Common Darter,but this species would normally have the yellow wing marking resticted to just a tiny basal spot near the base of the wings,whereas your image clearly shows the yellow marking extends further than just a small spot.The yellow striped legs that yours appears to have are certainly characteristic of this species though.
Then there's the Yellow-winged Darter,but your image clearly shows black pterostigma,wheras on the yellow-winged they're brown,so I'd safely count this one out too.
So,certainly not conclusive,but has certainly ruled out a few possibilities(hopefully).
Did you get any shots from different angles? An overhead shot showing the markings on the top of the thorax and abdomen would be useful,as would a clearer shot of the legs,just to see if they are definately yellow-striped.
Nice shot too btw.
If I were a gambling man (which I'm not) I'd put my money on a Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum),with this being an over-mature female.
An interesting thread.
Regards Rob.