Spotted Darter

Sympetrum depressiusculum (Selys, 1841)

DESCRIPTION

Males are reddish and females yellowish, with completely black legs. Males can be separated from S. sanguineum by the smaller dimensions of the anterior hook of hamule and by the larger black line between the eyes and frons. Females can be separated by the vulvar lamina shape, having the distal edge not pointed.

PHENOLOGY

Adults appear usually in July (sometimes even from the end of May) and can be observed until October. Most abundant in August.

HABITAT

The larvae grow in still, sometimes even seasonally dry, water bodies in the plain, in oxbow lakes, marshes, artificial reservoirs, rice fields and peatbogs.

DISTRIBUTION

Distribution range is mainly in Asia, where it can originate real invasions in Japan. In Europe it is rarer, with scattered populations here and there in the area enclosed by France, Poland and Greece. It is a rare species in the Cuneo region, even though recently a breeding site was found, with many individuals.