Black Darter
Encyclopedia
The Black Darter or Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae) is a dragonfly
found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about 30 mm (1.2 in) long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly. It is a very active late summer insect typical of heathland and moorland bog pools.
Members of the genus Sympetrum
are known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in the US and Canada.
and a very broad base to the hind wing. The thorax
has yellow sides separated by a bold black panel in which are three yellow spots, resembling a Highland Darter (Sympetrum nigrescens).
The male has a mainly black thorax
and abdomen
. The abdomen has small yellow marks on the side, that darken with age. The wings are clear.
The female has black legs and brown eyes. The abdomen is mainly yellow, becoming browner with age. It has small yellow patches at the wing bases.
Eggs are laid in flight by dipping the tip of the abdomen into the water. The eggs hatch the following Spring and the larvae develop very rapidly, emerging after as little as two months.
. Males are not territorial, but actively seek out females. This species is the smallest of Britain’s dragonflies. Although not as colourful as some other dragonflies it is a lovely dragonfly to watch. They often perch on a sunny spot on the ground. Their flight is a little skittish, and often flies away as you approach, but sometimes it is in a 'friendly mood' and lets you get very close. Sometimes they may even land on an observer’s hand.
, this dragonfly is very locally distributed in the lowlands, but more widespread in the north-west and Ireland
. It is often very locally abundant and maybe this triggers dispersal. Records from the south coast suggest that immigration from the continent does occur. Its main threats, however, are development, drainage
, agriculture
and peat extraction.
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...
found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about 30 mm (1.2 in) long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly. It is a very active late summer insect typical of heathland and moorland bog pools.
Members of the genus Sympetrum
Sympetrum
Sympetrum is a genus of small to medium sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in the North America...
are known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in the US and Canada.
Identification
Both sexes have black legs and pterostigmaPterostigma
The pterostigma is a cell in the outer wing of insects which is often thickened or coloured and so stands out from other cells. It is particularly noticeable in dragonflies, but present also in other insect groups, such as snakeflies, hymenopterans and megalopterans.The purpose of the pterostigma,...
and a very broad base to the hind wing. The thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
has yellow sides separated by a bold black panel in which are three yellow spots, resembling a Highland Darter (Sympetrum nigrescens).
The male has a mainly black thorax
Thorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
and abdomen
Abdomen
In vertebrates such as mammals the abdomen constitutes the part of the body between the thorax and pelvis. The region enclosed by the abdomen is termed the abdominal cavity...
. The abdomen has small yellow marks on the side, that darken with age. The wings are clear.
The female has black legs and brown eyes. The abdomen is mainly yellow, becoming browner with age. It has small yellow patches at the wing bases.
Breeding
This Darter is restricted to acidic shallow pools, lake margins and ditches in lowland heath and moorland bogs, usually with bog-mosses and rushes.Eggs are laid in flight by dipping the tip of the abdomen into the water. The eggs hatch the following Spring and the larvae develop very rapidly, emerging after as little as two months.
Behaviour
Males frequently bask in the sun, on open ground. The flight action is rather skittish resembling the Ruddy DarterRuddy Darter
The Ruddy Darter is a European species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae.-Description:The Ruddy Darter attains a wingspan of up to 6 cm. The head, thorax and abdomen of the male are vivid red, while the female is slightly smaller, and is a golden-yellow colour with black markings...
. Males are not territorial, but actively seek out females. This species is the smallest of Britain’s dragonflies. Although not as colourful as some other dragonflies it is a lovely dragonfly to watch. They often perch on a sunny spot on the ground. Their flight is a little skittish, and often flies away as you approach, but sometimes it is in a 'friendly mood' and lets you get very close. Sometimes they may even land on an observer’s hand.
Population and conservation
In the British IslesBritish Isles
The British Isles are a group of islands off the northwest coast of continental Europe that include the islands of Great Britain and Ireland and over six thousand smaller isles. There are two sovereign states located on the islands: the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and...
, this dragonfly is very locally distributed in the lowlands, but more widespread in the north-west and Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
. It is often very locally abundant and maybe this triggers dispersal. Records from the south coast suggest that immigration from the continent does occur. Its main threats, however, are development, drainage
Drainage
Drainage is the natural or artificial removal of surface and sub-surface water from an area. Many agricultural soils need drainage to improve production or to manage water supplies.-Early history:...
, agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
and peat extraction.
External links
- Black Meadowhawk, Talk about Wildlife
- Black Meadowhawk, Insects of Alberta
- Black Meadowhawk, NaturePhoto-CZ
- Black Meadowhawk, Iowa Odonata Survey