What Dragonfly? (1 Viewer)

moose1991

Alces alces

• Aug 7, 2007

• #1

These were taken by a friend in Chester.
I think they are female Ruddy Darters am I right?
Thanks.

EDIT. It's Common Darter isn't it?

 

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Last edited: Aug 7, 2007

A

aeshna5

Well-known member

• Aug 8, 2007

• #2

Looks like Common Darter to me!

 

wint

member

• Aug 8, 2007

• #3

moose1991 said:

These were taken by a friend in Chester.
I think they are female Ruddy Darters am I right?
Thanks.

EDIT. It's Common Darter isn't it?

Click to expand...

Hi Moose

I'll go with your revision! In both pics you can see the vulvar scale (not obvious in Ruddy) and in the right hand pic you can see the pale stripe on the legs.

Paul

Could I ask if anyone else thinks the "parallelogram" shaped black outline on the side of the thorax is diagnostic for female Common Darter vs Ruddy Darter? I've seen very few female Ruddy and couldn't find many pics to confirm my thoughts.

 

Last edited: Aug 8, 2007

moose1991

Alces alces

• Aug 8, 2007

• #4

Thanks for the confirmation.
Cheers.
O

 

H

HarassedDad

Norfolk County Butterfly Recorder

• Aug 8, 2007

• #5

wint said:

Could I ask if anyone else thinks the "parallelogram" shaped black outline on the side of the thorax is diagnostic for female Common Darter vs Ruddy Darter? I've seen very few female Ruddy and couldn't find many pics to confirm my thoughts.

Click to expand...

Not very reliable, immatures do have panels on the side - althiough they're fainter and less distinct. Don't forget female Black darters as a possibility if trying to id from a photo - that was my thought when I saw the photos above, but my eyesight's not good enough to see the stripes on the legs.

 

Steve Dudley

aka The Toadsnatcher

• Aug 8, 2007

• #6

The yellow sides are variable, even in adults, but once mature Common does have a darker mid panel and Ruddy doesnt.

Black Darter can be ruled out by thorax sides - all ages have dark mid panel with yellow spotting, the vulvar scale is at 90 degrees to the abdomen segment, the black on the undersides of the abdomen would extend further up the sides and each of the side of each abdomen seg lacks the long 'dash' of the red darters.

Steve
Watching British Dragonflies - see it at Birdfair 2007 - www.wildlifebooks.com