Bug FAQRuddy Darter
Sympetrum sanguineum · Order: Odonata · Family: Libellulidae
Also called: Ruddy Sympetrum
The ruddy darter is a small dragonfly about 34 to 36 mm long with a wingspan up to 6 cm. It lives near quiet ponds or lakes with rushes and reeds and is seen from June through November. Its range covers temperate Europe east to Siberia and south to the northern Sahara, including many countries such as France, Germany, Spain and Morocco.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Two black spots appear on the eighth and ninth abdominal segments. All legs are completely black, unlike similar species that have yellow leg stripes.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Body length ranges from 34 to 36 mm and wingspan can reach about 6 cm. It is smaller than the common darter.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Prefers calm water bodies with semi-aquatic plants like rushes and reeds.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae live underwater for a year before emerging as adults.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The larval stage lasts a year beneath the water surface, after which they emerge and pupate into adults.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults are active from June to November.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Found throughout temperate Europe, extending east to Siberia and south to the northern Sahara. Countries include France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia and many others.
Source: Wikipedia
Lookalikes
All-black legs set it apart from the common darter and vagrant darter, which have yellow leg stripes. The spotted darter also has black legs but shows a more clubbed abdomen and brighter wing spots.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I tell a ruddy darter from a common darter?
Look for all-black legs; common darters have yellow stripes on their legs.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Libellulidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruddy_darter
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.