Common Darter

Name: Common Darter

Scientific name: Sympetrum striolatum

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 30

What are nature stars?

About: A small, narrow bodied dragonfly, up to 6cm long. The male is bright red, while females and immatures are golden brown. On the wing from the end of June right through to October or even November in a warm autumn. This is a very common dragonfly, breeding in all sorts of water bodies, from ponds and ditches to rivers and lakes.

How to identify: There are several similar red darters, which can be very difficult to tell apart.

Where: Found throughout the country

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 70
• Agility: 80
• Rarity: 20
• Cute factor: 20
• Traveller: 50

Fantastic fact: In the late summer, Common Darters can be found almost everywhere, sat on twigs and fences angling their wings towards the sun to warm up.

Photograph credit: Robbie G1