Scarlet Dragonfly
Encyclopedia
The Crocothemis erythraea is a member of the dragonfly
genus Crocothemis
. Its common names include Broad Scarlet, Common Scarlet-darter, Scarlet Darter and Scarlet Dragonfly.
.
and north Africa
.
in Britain
.
The species was first recorded at Hayle Kimbro Pool
, The Lizard
, Cornwall
on 7 August 1995 (Jones 1996). Since then there has been a small number of further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.
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...
genus Crocothemis
Crocothemis
Crocothemis is a genus of dragonflies in the Libellulidae family, subfamily Sympetrinae . Various species of this genus occur in southern Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia and the Southwest Pacific. They are generally small to medium sized dragonflies.These dragonflies are often noticed due to their...
. Its common names include Broad Scarlet, Common Scarlet-darter, Scarlet Darter and Scarlet Dragonfly.
Description
The adult male Scarlet Dragonfly has a bright red, widened abdomen, and small amber patches at the bases of the hindwings. Females and immatures are yellow-brown and have a conspicuous pale stripe along the top of the thoraxThorax
The thorax is a division of an animal's body that lies between the head and the abdomen.-In tetrapods:...
.
Status and distribution
The Scarlet Dragonfly is a common species in southern EuropeSouthern Europe
The term Southern Europe, at its most general definition, is used to mean "all countries in the south of Europe". However, the concept, at different times, has had different meanings, providing additional political, linguistic and cultural context to the definition in addition to the typical...
and north Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
.
Status in Britain
The Scarlet Dragonfly is a very rare vagrantVagrancy (biology)
Vagrancy is a phenomenon in biology whereby individual animals appear well outside their normal range; individual animals which exhibit vagrancy are known as vagrants. The term accidental is sometimes also used...
in Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
.
The species was first recorded at Hayle Kimbro Pool
Hayle Kimbro Pool
Hayle Kimbro Pool is a wetland on The Lizard, Cornwall. It is situated two miles southeast of Mullion immediately northeast of Predannack airfield at ....
, The Lizard
The Lizard
The Lizard is a peninsula in south Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The most southerly point of the British mainland is near Lizard Point at ....
, Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
on 7 August 1995 (Jones 1996). Since then there has been a small number of further records at scattered locations throughout Britain.