The Spotted Darter is a small red dragonfly that lives across temperate Europe and Asia; it isn't found in the United States. It is declining in Europe but is one of the most common dragonflies in South Korea.
Appearance
- Appearance
- About 1.1–1.3 in (29–34 mm) long. Males have a flattened orange-red abdomen that widens slightly toward the tip, with a row of drop-shaped black spots along each side.
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Temporary pools
- Rice paddies
- Fish ponds
- Range
- Temperate Eurasia from Western Europe to Korea, but absent from the steppes and deserts of Central Asia. In Japan it is known mainly as a visitor blown in from the continent. In Europe most populations are on the lower slopes of the Alps and in the lowlands of eastern Germany and Poland.
- Preferred conditions
- Breeds in shallow water that dries out in fall and refills in late spring. Managed reservoirs, rice paddies, and carp ponds offer similar conditions, and carp farming may have helped it spread in parts of Europe.
Behavior
- Activity
- In Europe, adults fly in late summer. They are fairly weak fliers.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- LCLeast ConcernLow risk of extinction
- Status
- Rated Vulnerable in Europe, where intensive land use and the loss of traditional farming have caused declines.
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