Banded Darter
Encyclopedia
The Banded Darter is a Europe
an species of dragonfly
of the family Libellulidae
.
(35-40mm), sharing the broad hindwings and black legs.
. Its main breeding range is south-eastern, especially at medium altitudes, although it appears to be spreading westwards.
just once, in Wales
, in the Sympetrum immigration year of 1995 on 16-17 August.
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an species of dragonfly
Dragonfly
A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...
of the family Libellulidae
Libellulidae
The skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded , there still remains a...
.
Description
Males of the Banded Darter, like most members of the genus, have a red abdomen. The species' primary distinguishing feature however is the presence, in both sexes, of broad black bands across the outer section of each wing. It is similar in size to the Black DarterBlack Darter
The Black Darter or Black Meadowhawk is a dragonfly found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about 30 mm long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly...
(35-40mm), sharing the broad hindwings and black legs.
Behaviour
The weak, low, fluttering flight is not unlike that of a Black Darter, but it perches frequently on the tips of rush stems rather than on the ground. It is a surprisingly inconspicuous species.Status
This species is resident in continental EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. Its main breeding range is south-eastern, especially at medium altitudes, although it appears to be spreading westwards.
Vagrancy to Britain
The Banded Darter has been recorded in BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
just once, in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, in the Sympetrum immigration year of 1995 on 16-17 August.