Sympetrum sanguineum
• English name: Ruddy Darter
• German name: Blutrote Heidelibelle
• French name: Sympétrum sanguin
• Dutch name: Bloedrode heidelibel
• Swedish name: Blodröd ängstrollslända
• Norwegian name: Blodrød høstlibelle
• Finnish name: Verikorento
• Danish name: Blodrød hedelibel
• Italian name: Cardinale sanguineo
• Czech name: vážka rudá
• Slovenian name: Krvavordeči kamenjak
• Bulgarian name: Кърваво червениче
Sympetrum sanguineum
Not present
Present before 1990
Present after 1990
Present before and after 1990
Present after 2015
Map data based on J.-P. Boudot & V. J. Kalkman (eds.),
Atlas of the European Dragonflies and Damselflies
| General | • a small species, common throughout Europe except Iberia and the far north | |
| Classification | • suborder: Anisoptera (dragonflies); family: Libellulidae | |
| Conservation status | • IUCN Red List Europe: Least Concern | |
| Scientific name | • Sympetrum sanguineum (Müller, 1764) | |
| Distribution | • click or tap the Map button above | |
| Habitat | • ponds and lakes | |
| Dimensions | • typical body length: 34-39 mm; hindwing: 23-31 mm | |
| Notes | • libellulids are 'sitters': males spend a lot of time perched at the water's edge, waiting for females | |
| • all European Sympetrum species oviposit in tandem | ||
| Both sexes | Abdomen | • the side of the abdomen bears a row of black markings |
| • the (upper) appendages are of the same colour as the abdomen | ||
| Wings | ➤ the hindwing bears a small orange patch at the base | |
| Legs | ➤ the legs are all black | |
| Male | Thorax | • the thorax is brown-red (brown-yellow in immature males) with black lines on the side |
| Abdomen | ➤ the abdomen is blood-red (brown-yellow in immature males) and club-shaped, with some black markings on S8 and S9 | |
| Female | Thorax | • the thorax is brown-yellow with black lines on the side |
| Abdomen | • the abdomen is brown-yellow, with some black markings on S8 and S9 | |
| Photographs | • most of our photos below were made in Tuscany and the south of Italy |
LineDrawing: the male's head, thorax and abdomen in lateral view.
