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Female Darter
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Female Darter (Sympetrum sp.)

At first I thought this was a fem Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) as the body markings seemed to point in that direction. The legs however show a yellow stripe, which would be characteristic of Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum). Photographed in West Somerset where Common would be much the likelier of the two. Can anyone confirm?
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Location
West Somerset
Date taken
28 Aug 2008
Scientific name
Sympetrum sp.
Equipment used
Sony A100
Adey Baker
You're half-right with your ID as Common Darter, but it's actually an immature male. Check this thread: http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=39267 especially post #25 for some details on the differences
 
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Thank you very much for taking the trouble to comment on this. I feel a bit sheepish at not having looked into it more carefully but I'm something of a beginner at the game and a pensioner to boot. TWO excuses!

Kind regards and, again, my appreciation, David.
 
Adey Baker
No problems, Davd - I can remember when I first got into these things and found them very confusing!
 
madamcoolpix
Lovely to see you've decided to post again, David! ;) Good job done with your beautiful Dragonfly... and good Adey was around to sort out the ID problem! ;) :t: :t:
 

Media information

Category
Invertebrates
Added by
David Newbitt
Date added
View count
60
Comment count
4

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