Sympetrum meridionale

Sympetrum meridionale, the southern darter, is a species of dragonfly belonging to the Skimmer family Libellulidae.

Sympetrum meridionale
Male of Sympetrum meridionale
Female of Sympetrum meridionale, with mites on the left wings
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Sympetrum
Species:	S. meridionale
Binomial name
Sympetrum meridionale (Selys, 1841)
Synonyms
Libellula meridionalis Selys, 1841

Description

The adults grow up to 35–40 millimetres (1.4–1.6 in) long. The wingspan reaches 52–60 millimetres (2.0–2.4 in).

The abdomen of adult males is orange-reddish, without black spots on segments. The sides of the thorax are yellowish-brown. The adult females are quite similar to males, but the background color is more yellow. The wings are hyaline, with yellow or pale brown pterostigma.

Life cycle and behavior

Their life cycle lasts two or three years. They can be encountered from May through mid October in the immediate vicinity of shallow, well vegetated still water, where the larvae develop.

Distribution

This species is present in most of southern Europe.

References

• Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B. (2006). Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe. British Wildlife Publishing. ISBN 0-9531399-4-8.
• Henrik Steinmann - World Catalogue of Odonata (Volume II Anisoptera) [S. 477f], de Gruyter, 1997, ISBN 3-11-014934-6
• Fauna Europaea
• Biolib