Dragonfly ID please

Denise · Post by **Denise** » Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:32 pm

Hi all,

I know that this a butterfly site but dragonflies have been mentioned on a few threads. Does anyone know what this one is?

Thanks

Denise

Mike Young · Post by **Mike Young** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 7:44 am

Hi Denise,
I cant be 100% certain, because I can't see certain details that will confirm a positive ID, there are two likely candidates, Common or Ruddy darter, common has yellow stripes on the legs, Ruddy has black legs. Common has distinct yellowish patches on the thorax, Ruddy has not. On balance however this looks very like a Common Darter to me.

Dave Mac · Post by **Dave Mac** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 8:23 am

I often walk around Rickmansworth lakes and on a sunny day this time of year there are still a number of common darters around although they look a bit faded (similar to the one Denise photographed). The only other dragons still about are migrant hawkers. The weekend before last I was convinced I saw a brown hawker, however according to my dragonfly book its a bit late for them.
Dave

Denise · Post by **Denise** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 10:53 am

Thanks guys.
Will try to do better next season
Denise

Mike Young · Post by **Mike Young** » Mon Oct 15, 2007 3:56 pm

Heres a shot that shows the ID points I mentioned in my earlier reply

Common Darter

eccles · Post by **eccles** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 2:30 pm

Faded common darters are usually females. As they get older they go from yellow to brown. Males usually turn deeper red as they get older. I went dragonfly hunting yesterday and saw only common darters where there were both common and ruddy at the location earlier in the year. Commons are more hardy that ruddys and can live well into October.

Mike Young · Post by **Mike Young** » Mon Oct 22, 2007 3:09 pm

Actually I got shots of them in Nov last year