Scarlet dragonfly

The scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea) is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. Its common names include broad scarlet, common scarlet-darter, and scarlet darter.[1]

Scarlet dragonfly
Male, Cyprus
Female, Bulgaria
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Libellulidae
Genus: Crocothemis
Species:
C. erythraea
Binomial name
Crocothemis erythraea
(Brullé, 1832)

Status and distribution

The scarlet dragonfly is a common species in southern Europe and throughout Africa. It also occurs across western Asia as far as southern China.[1] It is a very rare vagrant in Britain. Its first record in the country was at Hayle Kimbro Pool, The Lizard, Cornwall, on 7 August 1995. Since then there have been a few further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.[2]

Habitat

A wide range of both running and standing waters, except those that are shaded. Adults may be found some distance from water in habitats ranging from desert to open woodland; absent from dense forest.[1][3]

Description

Crocothemis erythraea can reach a length of 33–44 millimetres (1.3–1.7 in). These dragonflies haves a flattened and rather broad abdomen. The adult male scarlet dragonfly has a bright scarlet red, widened abdomen, with small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. Also the veins on the leading edges of the wings are red. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thorax.[4][5]

  • male
    male
  • red female
    red female
  • female
    female
  • Clip

References
  1. Clausnitzer, V. (2016). "Crocothemis erythraea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T59859A83846274. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T59859A83846274.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. Jones, S. P. (1996). "The first British record of the Scarlet Dragonfly Crocothemis erythraea (Brullé)" (PDF). Journal of the British Dragonfly Society. 12 (1): 11–12.
  3. Dijkstra, K.-D.B.; Clausnitzer, V. (2014). The dragonflies and damselflies of eastern Africa. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa. ISBN 978-94-916-1506-1.
  4. "Scarlet Darter". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 12 August 2011.
  5. K-D Dijkstra; Asmus Schröter (2020). Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe: 2nd edition. Bloomsbury Publishing. p. 307. ISBN 9781472943972.
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