Species account

Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)    (Sulzer, 1776)
   Skimmers (Libellulidae) [Dragonflies]    BLDA    24828
Sort Hedelibel (dk)   Alguacil Oscuro (es)   Svart Ängstrollslända (se)  
Synonyms (common):
Black Meadowhawk (us)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula scotica Donovan, 1811
Libellula veronensis Charpentier, 1825
Sympetrum pallidistigma Stephens, 1835
Libellula nigricula Eversmann, 1836
Libellula nigra Charpentier, 1840
Sympetrum pojarkovi Grigoriev, 1905
Sympetrum arcticum Matsumura, 1911
Sympetrum matrix Bartenev, 1915
Sympetrum verum Bartenev, 1915
Measurements:
To 29-33mm Ab 18-26mm Hw 20-30mm
Generations:
Identification:
Imago:
In Denmark male unique. Separated from whitefaces by black frons.
Immatures and females have a brown triangle on top of thorax, where Ruddy shows a T-shape. And they show three yellow dots on side of black part of the thorax. The vulvar scale on females is as prominent as on Moustached Darter.

Wing marks are white on immatures and black on mature individuals. Have seen a photo on artportalen.se where a male showed white appendages. Perhaps also an immature feature?
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating only lasts a few minutes and takes place in grasses or higher up in bushes or trees. The female drops the eggs in tandem (occasionally alone) into plant material over shallow water or the drying out shore. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. The larvae live in-between water plants or at the bottom, and develop during 2-3 months (same season). The imago-transformation takes place low on vegetation in the water or on the shore.
Distribution: (?):Altitude is often taken from a specific localized resource, why the true entire range very likely is wider.
Most of Europe; absent Mediterranean region and northern Fennoscandinavia. Also present east through Russia to China, Korea and Japan. Also present N America, especially W Lower 48 and southern C and E Canada. In Denmark present in all regions, but mainly NE Sjælland, most of Jylland and Bornholm.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Prone to dispurse seeking new breeding grouns, why it can show up at unexpected sites.
Endemic:
Status:
Widespread and relatively common in Denmark and considered stable, though in general it is decreasing in Europe due to habitat loss. Seen all over Jylland but less so western Limfjord region and most common in the central part. Also very common NE Sjælland. Not common Fyn, Lolland, Falster and southern Sjælland.
Comment:
Black Darter 548    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago
Immature.



Black Darter 543    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago
Immature.



Black Darter 545    (2 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago
Immature.



Black Darter 1068    (1 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago
Young or female. Much black above the frons.



Black Darter 552    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male




Black Darter 537    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Immature.



Black Darter 550    (2 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
In picture 2 with Four-spotted Chaser.



Black Darter 549    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Less yellow on the abdomen than for example 546.



Black Darter 540    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Immature. No vulvar scale visible indicating male, but as with other darters I've seen it is not always showing why I will not sex this individual.



Black Darter 547    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male




Black Darter 544    (2 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Immature.



Black Darter 546    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Apparently the extention of yellow on the proximal part of the abdomen is variable. As is probably the white edges on the wing marks.



Black Darter 1067    (2 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Young.



Black Darter 1069    (1 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Young. Sexed by the appendages.



Black Darter 1070    (2 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Adult male. Unmistakable with the pale markings at the base of the abdomen and laterally on S7-8; and the three yellow spots on the side of the thorax. Separating it from Small Whiteface [Lille Kærguldsmed] which superficially looks similar and inhabits the same locality.



Black Darter 1071    (1 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Young male.



Black Darter 1072    (1 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Young male. The closely positioned appendages and the visible secondary genitalia below S2 define the sex.



Black Darter 1075    (1 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Male
Mature. A well-developed individual turned almost completely black in all parts.



Black Darter 1102    (1 photos)
2022-08-20    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Male
Sandskredssøen. Immature.



Black Darter 1100    (1 photos)
2022-08-20    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Male
Sandskredssøen.



Black Darter 1327    (1 photos)
2022-08-20    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Male
Sandskredssøen.
Immature individual.



Black Darter 1105    (2 photos)
2022-09-02    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Small pond just east of the resting home, Løjtegårdshjemmet.

Two different animals. At the same small pond, 20 m2.

Totally unexpected at this very manmade site. And being my first observation of the species on Amager, makes it even more remarkable. Less than 10 animals have been reported from Amager through the years, according to naturbasen.dk.

Normally you would visit some of the forest lakes north of Copenhagen to get the species in this region.



Black Darter 1721    (1 photos)
2023-07-08    Rold Skov (midtjylland), Denmark

Imago Male
Bogs near Skørping.
I only saw this one animal but FAB reported 25 this day.



Black Darter 1786    (3 photos)
2023-07-14    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Plejehjemsdammen.
Again. Today I found two young animals again of this species so far away from where it normally breeds. Last year it happened in September, why I have to guess that this is a common behavior of the species to wander. Just funny that I haven't been able to find it elsewhere on the island. See also 1787.



Black Darter 1787    (1 photos)
2023-07-14    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Plejehjemsdammen.
Two found today. See 1786.



Black Darter 2030    (2 photos)
2023-07-27    Skær Sø (Egtved), Denmark

Imago Male
Young.



Black Darter 2202    (1 photos)
2023-08-16    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Regnvandsbassinet.



Black Darter 2198    (2 photos)
2023-08-16    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Plejehjemsdammen.
With 6 males and one female, including a pairing this was todays big surprise, but apparently it is not unheard of, that the species inhabits new smaller water holes away from the more commonly used acid forest lakes - according to Billqvist (Nordens Trollsländor). However, he says that they normally do this only when close to preferred habitat. I guess we are about 20 kilometers away from the closest known locations with acid lakes, why that must qualify as close in a Swedish context.



Black Darter 2199    (1 photos)
2023-08-16    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Plejehjemsdammen.



Black Darter 2203    (2 photos)
2023-08-16    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Regnvandsbassinet.
At the smaller basin.



Black Darter 2200    (3 photos)
2023-08-16    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Plejehjemsdammen.



Black Darter 2254    (1 photos)
2023-08-23    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male




Black Darter 2255    (1 photos)
2023-08-23    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Had 4 different males today.



Black Darter 2267    (1 photos)
2023-08-25    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Rainwater basin.



Black Darter 2268    (1 photos)
2023-08-25    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Rainwater basin.



Black Darter 2270    (3 photos)
2023-08-25    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Plejehjemsdammen.
Young.



Black Darter 2272    (1 photos)
2023-08-25    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male
Rainwater basin.



Black Darter 2289    (1 photos)
2023-08-27    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Male
Sandskredsøen.
Rather than being attracted by my bag, I think it chose this spot to perch because I thoughtlessly put it right where it preferred to overlook its territory.



Black Darter 2292    (2 photos)
2023-08-30    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Male
Granathøj.
2 different males. And new at this site, to me.



Black Darter 2826    (5 photos)
2024-07-06    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Male
Fandens Hul. Teneral, recently emerged. Exuvia collected.

A year first for me, on a cloudy day that later turned into pouring rain. The delta mark on top of the thorax and the three side spots already showing. The size of exuviae in general continues to amaze me. The animals are like vacuum-packed toys when emerging from the water, exploding in size when the back cracks open and the fluids start to flow.

See exuvia details here.



Black Darter 2903    (1 photos)
2024-07-24    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Imago Male
Fandens Hul.
Seen at the same time as the young Small Whiteface today, adding to the confusing when seeing that animal. See 2896. And seeing that this individual has a trace of white in the face, the confusing could be reversed. This white color, however, will eventually turn into a dark green or blackish color why the confusing is only temporary.



Black Darter 3055    (2 photos)
2024-10-18    Søvang, Denmark

Imago Male
Vandhullet.
Some weeks ago I had a suspected male here, but it disappeared before I could see it well. Knowing how scarce the species is on Amager, I wonder if it could be the same individual that has survived until now?

Photo two is how I first shot it, and browsing through the images of the day, for a short second I thought I had gotten a female too - by the pale overexposed look.



Black Darter 3370    (1 photos)
2025-08-24    Langkær Mose (Bryrup), Denmark

Imago Male
Young. Also a victim of my netting-target practice, before trying on the the real juncea target. But catching a darter is not the same as catching a large hawker with stronger flight muscles and less-appoachable flight patterns.

Captured
Black Darter 3399    (1 photos)
2025-09-30    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
DLK-nord.
Was sitting on this stone in the water at the bend. This being one of the last spots where the dragonflies gather, with striolatum and mixta also present, and a few days ago the latest cyathigerum on the island so far as well.



Black Darter 534    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
Immature with white wing marks.



Black Darter 535    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
The vulvar scale is just visible indicating it's a female. And the white wing marks that is still immature.



Black Darter 536    (2 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female




Black Darter 538    (2 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
Immature.



Black Darter 539    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
Immature with wing marks starting to get dark. Broad black line going down side of frons like on Moustached and Ruddy.



Black Darter 551    (2 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
Immature.



Black Darter 541    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
The dark wing marks indicate it is a mature female, and as you can see here, the vulvar scale is not very prominent. Partly because of the viewing angle, but also because it is moveable, and can be retracted into the lower part of the abdomen (mentioning this because my guide books don't seem to explain this).



Black Darter 542    (1 photos)
2021-07-21    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female




Black Darter 1074    (1 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
Mature. The vulvar scale is very prominent and protruding in a right angle is characteristic of the species.



Black Darter 1065    (1 photos)
2022-08-06    Store Hareskov (Gladsaxe), Denmark

Imago Female
Looks pale, like a young individual - especially the dark neck triangle is weakly defined.



Black Darter 1101    (2 photos)
2022-08-20    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Female
Sandskredssøen.



Black Darter 1099    (2 photos)
2022-08-20    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Female
Sandskredssøen.



Black Darter 1098    (1 photos)
2022-08-20    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Female
Sandskredssøen.



Black Darter 2031    (1 photos)
2023-07-27    Addit Hede (midtjylland), Denmark

Imago Female
Young.



Black Darter 2257    (1 photos)
2023-08-23    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Female
Plejehjemsdammen. 2 females seen today.



Black Darter 2256    (1 photos)
2023-08-23    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Female
Plejehjemsdammen. 2 females seen today.



Black Darter 2271    (1 photos)
2023-08-25    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Female
Plejehjemsdammen.



Black Darter 3056    (10 photos)
2024-09-23    Kalvebod Fælled (Tårnby), Denmark

Imago Female
Villahøj.
4 different females were a surprise this day. In fact, my first on Amager this year now that they didn't show up at Travbaneparken. I found them low in the vegetation at the short dead end path below the eastern descend from the hill.

1-4
5-7
8-9
10



Black Darter 3322    (3 photos BOTH SIDES)
2025-07-23    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
Strandengen-syd. Kalmus-vandhullet (dried out). Young.
How come a young animal of this species shows up here, is beyond me! But a nice surprice, and my 27th dragonfly species on Amager Fælled.



Black Darter 1097    (1 photos)
2022-08-20    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Sandskredssøen. Mating wheel.

Prime time for the species, with literally hundreds mating and egg-laying in the lake.



Black Darter 2201    (2 photos)
2023-08-16    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Regnvandsbassinet.
Mating at the brink of the larger basin.



Black Darter 2283    (1 photos)
2023-08-27    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Sandskredsøen.
Mating wheel.



Black Darter 3065    (1 photos)    (1 videos)
2024-09-18    Grib Skov (Hillerød), Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Kagerup - Sandskredssøen. Egg-laying.
Several pairs in a small water hole in a clearing, egg-bombing as the sympetrums are accustomed to - the male grabbing the female behind the eyes and swinging her over the water while she releases the eggs.



Black Darter 3194    (13 photos)
2024-07-06    Teglstrup Hegn (nordsjælland), Denmark

Exuvia Male
Fandens Hul.
Bulky mask; Regular teeth on labial palps; Low contrast between top and back of head; None-hairy general look; Small half-dome-shaped eyes seen from the front; Underside of abdomen without dark colors; Side spine on S9 does not reach past cerci; Cerci shorter than half of paraprocts; Lenght of S8 side spine is not more than 1/6 of lenght of S8; Size and shape. (not all characters are equally visible in these photos, but the complete exclusion-chain is listed for educational purposes).

The exuvia belongs to this male.

Exuvia