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Species account
Stor Hedelibel
(Sympetrum striolatum)
(Charpentier, 1840)
Libeller (Libellulidae) [Guldsmede] CODA 24829
Libeller (Libellulidae) [Guldsmede] CODA 24829
Common Darter (gb)
Libélula Estriada (es)
Större Ängstrollslända (se)
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula ruficollis Charpentier, 1840
Diplax commixta Selys, 1884
Sympetrum subpruinosum Kirby, 1886
Sympetrum nigrescens Lucas, 1912
Sympetrum durum Bartenev, 1916
Sympetrum striolatum doshidorzhii Belyshev, 1958
Diplax commixta Selys, 1884
Sympetrum subpruinosum Kirby, 1886
Sympetrum nigrescens Lucas, 1912
Sympetrum durum Bartenev, 1916
Sympetrum striolatum doshidorzhii Belyshev, 1958
Subspecies
nigrescens
Lucas (1912) - Atlantic coast of Ireland, Scotland and Norway, isle of Man, Åland-islands and S Finland (also elsewhere in Fennoscandinavia and Denmark). Darker legs, more pronounced moustache with a thick spot at the lower end.
nigrifemur
Selys (1884) - Atlantic Darter. The Canaries and Madeira islands. Larger and different shape of male secondary genetalia. Possibly warrants species status.
Measurements:
To 33-44mm Ab 20-30mm Hw 24-30mm
Generations:
Flight period:
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| EU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Identification:
2020-09-13
Mostly similar to Moustached Darter (Almindelig Hedelibel) with yellow on legs. But present species does not have the black marking running down the central side of the eye, as does Moustached (hence the name). And the vulvar scale (below S9-10), on the female, of present species shows a weaker angle to the abdomen. And apparently the narrow waist of the male is less so than on Moustached. Also, the old male shows two isolated yellow patches on the side of the thorax, where Moustached is more uniform dark red.
But variation and overlap occur.
Mostly similar to Moustached Darter (Almindelig Hedelibel) with yellow on legs. But present species does not have the black marking running down the central side of the eye, as does Moustached (hence the name). And the vulvar scale (below S9-10), on the female, of present species shows a weaker angle to the abdomen. And apparently the narrow waist of the male is less so than on Moustached. Also, the old male shows two isolated yellow patches on the side of the thorax, where Moustached is more uniform dark red.
But variation and overlap occur.
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating takes place near the water hole, and takes place in the vegetation and lasts 10-15 minutes. The pair then flies in tandem low over the shore vegetation, wet or dry part, and the eggs are dropped while the male swings the female. Sometimes they detach and the female completes the process by herself. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring, where the larvae develop during 3-4 months (same season). The imago-transformation takes place low on plants in or near the water, and simply in the grass next to the shore.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent northern Scandinavian peninsula and most of Finland. Also present in NW Africa and east through Turkey, the Middle East, Iran, Kazakhstan, Mongolia to Korea and Japan. In Denmark widespread and present in all regions.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Endemic:
Status
(?):NE: Not evaluated
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
RE: Regionally extinct
NA: Not applicable
DD: Data deficient
LC: Least concern
NT: Near threatened
VU: Vulnerable
EN: Endangered
CR: Critically endangered
EW: Extinct in the wild
EX: Extinct
RE: Regionally extinct
LC(global) LC(eu) LC(EU) LC(dk). Common in Denmark and Europe in general, with an expanding tendency in the north. In the beginning of the 20th century it was considered somewhat rare in Denmark, especially in the eastern parts of the country. That status has changed now, as the number of records continue to grow. Vulgatum used to be the more common, but is now the rarer species of the two. Amager
Comment:
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2151
(1 photos)
2023-08-05 Ny Sebberup Skov (Hedensted), Denmark Imago Not sure about the sex. |
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462
(1 photos)
2020-07-13 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Young male with narrow waist and black tattoo mark on frons (not being part of the moustache). |
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463
(3 photos)
2020-07-13 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Young individual |
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464
(2 photos)
2020-07-13 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Young. Assuming this species by very narrow yellow stripe on front legs. |
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465
(1 photos)
2020-07-13 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Young individual |
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518
(2 photos)
2021-07-07 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Restricted black down side of frons, yellow on legs and black framed rectangle on side of thorax. |
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1178
(2 photos)
2022-07-16 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han |
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1175
(1 photos)
2022-07-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han |
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1179
(2 photos)
2022-07-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han |
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1160
(1 photos)
2022-11-05 Kongelundsområdet, Denmark Imago Han Skovfogedmarken. Practically the only species flying on Amager now. |
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1161
(3 photos)
2022-11-05 Kongelundsområdet, Denmark Imago Han Skovfogedmarken. An animal with a damaged eye. As if it's been punched in. Apparently it didn't have problems flying and attacking another male. Aberrant |
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2209
(1 photos)
2023-08-17 Krebseklo-vandhullet/kirkegård (Hørsholm), Denmark Imago Han Young male. |
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2264
(1 photos)
2023-08-24 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Pinseskoven. |
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2262
(2 photos)
2023-08-24 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Pinseskoven. Young individual. |
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2253
(2 photos)
2023-08-24 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Pinseskoven. |
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2273
(2 photos)
2023-08-26 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Fasanskoven. |
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2377
(2 photos)
2023-09-14 Travbaneparken, Denmark Imago Han Plejehjemsdammen. A fairly typical mature male, but still very similar to the male vulgatum [Almindelig Hedelibel] in 2375 of the same day. However, notice the difference in amount of yellow on the legs, and the black moustache down the side of the eye plus the more yellowish contrasting ovals on the side of the thorax of the striolatum. |
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2376
(2 photos)
2023-09-14 Travbaneparken, Denmark Imago Han Plejehjemsdammen. A fairly typical mature male. |
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2371
(1 photos)
2023-09-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Sporet. Mature. Restricted yellow on the legs, restricted black moustache and the yellowish thorax ovals well defined point in the direction of striolatum. A rather skinny specimen with an almost club-shaped abdomen - more like sangineum [Blodrød Hedelibel]. |
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2370
(3 photos)
2023-09-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Sporet. Mature. The amount of yellow on the legs is difficult to ascertain on this old individual but the restricted black on the frons in dense color combined with the paler dark bulb further down the eye-side is good for the species. |
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2386
(3 photos)
2023-09-21 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han With half a second right leg. I don't recall seeing many animals with damaged legs, so with two today, 2385, this is quite unusual, I think. Are the animals more fragile now, more aggressive toward eatch other or could the fact that bird migration is high right now be causing more injuries by birds chasing them? About species, many of these old males can be tricky to separate, compared to vulgatum [Almindelig Hedelibel], but apart from the classic features this one also shows the details of the secondary genitals, pointed spikes, that support striolatum better than vulgatum that shows more of a lump with two points. Aberrant |
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2390
(1 photos)
2023-09-24 Hvidovre Strandenge, Denmark Imago Han Mature. Restricted yellow on the legs and again an individual with the black blob below the moustache. |
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2389
(1 photos)
2023-09-24 Hvidovre Strandenge, Denmark Imago Han Mature. With the black blob down below the moustache that some individuals have. |
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2388
(2 photos)
2023-09-24 Hvidovre Strandenge, Denmark Imago Han Blurry dark markings on the eye are not part of the moustache. |
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2405
(1 photos)
2023-09-30 Amager Fælled, Denmark Imago Han Practically the only darter that flies on Amager now. |
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2724
(6 photos)
2024-06-03 Travbaneparken, Denmark Imago Han Lille regnbassin. My first thought was that it was a striolatum because of the limited moustache, but the extensive amount of yellow on the front legs doesn't go well with that species, and should rather be found on a vulgatum [Almindelig Hedelibel]. Lars Johansen mentions that the darkish bulb on the frons below the black moustache is a qualifying character for striolatum, never seen on vulgatum, why he also sees it as a striolatum. That variation exists on leg coloration is known, but is it just randomly so, or does it happen under certain circumstances? I've tried to find similar-looking animals online, resulting in a similar animal on a Polish site. And looking through my own material I found another one with much yellow on the legs, 2209. All of these are in their earliest stages where the wing marks are still mostly white. The big question then is, whether they keep the yellowish legs throughout their adult life or if they eventually darken to look more like the normal legs with only a yellow line on the back of the legs? If they do go through a process from much to little yellow as being the normal development, I guess, many more pale-legged individuals would have been found, why it is inviting to believe that we are talking about a naturally occurring deviation. Unless you take another perspective on the matter: Knowing that cross-species interaction does occur, and expecting that some of that action sometimes actually leads to a successful breeding outcome, it could also mean that these animals in fact could be hybrids?! ...Will keep investigating. |
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3068
(3 photos)
2024-11-14 Søvang, Denmark Imago Han Vandhullet. Latest for me ever. I've been around looking for them during the first half of November, but except for the first few days I've found none. All because of the weather we've had lately, with typical overcast and dark conditions without a single ray of sun for almost two weeks in a row. Expected but still depressing. On the positive side we've been spared for rain and strong winds. But today the sun came out and I must admit that I had expected more animals to show up, taking the large numbers I had late in October into consideration. But not a single animals at all the good spots on Kalvebod Fælled, why I'm grateful that I at least got this one. I didn't disturb the animal, though I'm not sure it would have reacted if I had. Flat, like glued to the rock trying to absorb as much energy from it as possible. Air temperature today was about 10C, and the temperature on the rock can't have been much higher since the sun was in a haze and the wind was fresh. |
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3416
(2 photos)
2025-11-01 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han SHV-svenskesø. Left wings dorsal view, Fw 31mm Hw 29,5mm. Measured from the fixation point along the costa (leading edge) to the tip of wing. The yellow tint is how most striolatum normally look at this time of the season, though probably exaggerated here because the photos were taken a day after finding the animal, knowing that dead animals normally loose their colors and darken. Wings |
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425
(3 photos)
2020-07-13 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Young. I first id'ed this female as a vulgatum because it looks like the moustache is running long down the eye-side and ends pointed. But both the limited and yellow on the front legs and the shape of the vulvar scale suit a striolatum better. Normally the saying is, that the moustache has precedence over the other features, but I believe this example is the exception to the rule. |
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466
(1 photos)
2020-07-14 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Young. The black rectangle on the side of the thorax is not so strongly marked, but the shape of the vulvar scale is spot on for the present species, as is the short moustache between the eye and frons. |
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563
(2 photos)
2021-08-01 Amager Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Younger. The well-defined short moustache is somewhat obscured by the black bleeding into the frons. |
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1104
(1 photos)
2022-07-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun |
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1177
(1 photos)
2022-07-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun |
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1176
(2 photos)
2022-07-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun |
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1690
(1 photos)
2023-06-24 Grusgrav ved Mogenstrup (Sjælland), Denmark Imago Hun |
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2042
(2 photos)
2023-07-27 Skær Sø (Egtved), Denmark Imago Hun Some might say that the dark markings, moustache, down the side of the frons should indicate a Moustached Darter [Almindelig Hedelibel], but this combination with the dark spot midway down the side is well-known for striolatum. Besides, the well-marked black rectangle on the side of the thorax is also better for striolatum, as is the narrow yellow line on the back on the forelegs. Damaged |
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2206
(3 photos)
2023-08-16 Kongelundsområdet, Denmark Imago Hun Skovfogedmarken. A single mature female as they often appear. |
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2261
(2 photos)
2023-08-24 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Pinseskoven. Mature individual. |
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2279
(4 photos)
2023-08-26 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Fasanskoven. |
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2274
(3 photos)
2023-08-26 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Fasanskoven. |
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2369
(1 photos)
2023-09-17 Kongelundsområdet, Denmark Imago Hun Msø. |
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2391
(3 photos)
2023-09-24 Hvidovre Strandenge, Denmark Imago Hun Mature. Typical specimen: Limited moustache, limited yellow on the legs, strongly colored yellow on the lower part of the thorax ovals and the shape of the valvular scale. |
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2406
(4 photos)
2023-10-16 Travbaneparken, Denmark Imago Hun Plejehjemsdammen. Egg-dropping alone and then took a rest. |
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2765
(3 photos)
2024-06-07 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Villahøj. Teneral. With a focus on the variety of extent of yellow on the front legs this female is interesting, because it looks like there is more yellow on the left front leg than on the right one. In general it has more yellow than is normally attributed to the species, but since it is a young animal, still with white wing marks, it follows what I like to see as a pattern where the very young animals do show this pattern. See 2724 for comparison with a young male. The moustache pattern follows the same as on 2724 with the blurry bulb on the frons below the moustache. |
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3016
(1 photos)
2024-08-05 Kongelundsområdet, Denmark Imago Hun Nordskoven. |
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3061
(2 photos)
2024-09-29 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Pinseskoven. The black moustache down the eye is part of the color of the frons, and therefore the moustache is short and better suited for a striolatum than a vulgatum [Almindelig Hedelibel]. However, the strong shadow along the eye is the major point of confusion here, and a good example of how important it is to get to see the facial details well, and preferably from more angles before reaching for an identification. The limited pale color on the front leg femur, is also in favor of a striolatum. |
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3054
(2 photos)
2024-10-18 Kongelundsområdet, Denmark Imago Hun Troldelysningen. This female shows an aberrant eye color. The lower part of the eye is normally olive green, but here dark bronzy; more similar to what is seen on the male Black Darter [Sort Hedelibel]. The rest of the animal looks normal, and it behaved like the others present today, sunning on the circled stones and flying and maneuvering without difficulties. Aberrant |
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3371
(3 photos)
2025-08-22 Gjerrild (djursland), Denmark Imago Hun Hestehave-vandhullerne. Form nigrescens. Tentatively calling it this form, being a dark individual that is not too mature to obscure the color tones, and the femurs showing almost no yellow and the center part of the side of the thorax is lined in thick black with yellow center spots, plus the thick black spot under the short moustache. Aberrant |
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3398
(2 photos)
2025-09-28 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Hun Bro-vandhullet. When I saw this animals the tail looked bluish, and I was almost sensing Orthetrum vibes. But closer up it was a darter, and I think the substance on wings and the last abdominal segments might be slime from a snail or other type of insect/animal. Aberrant |
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1122
(1 photos)
2022-08-17 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han & Hun In tandem. Flying egg-dropping mode. |
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3070
(4 photos)
2024-08-26 Travbaneparken, Denmark Imago Han & Hun Egg-dropping. |
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3053
(3 photos)
2024-09-29 Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark Imago Han & Hun Svenskeholmvej øst, lysning. I often find the late darters anxious and very wary, but today, in the sun and out of the wind, they were completely confident, also landing on my head and my back, taking advantage of my heat radiation, I guess, and a more sun-exposed position out of the tall grasses. With a delightful pooh-package gratifyingly dropped at the root of my little finger! Hands on |
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3291
(10 photos)
2025-07-01 Travbaneparken, Denmark Exuvia Lille regnvandsbassin. Bulky mask;Regularly toothed labial palps; Half-domed eye-shape; S9-side-thorn longer than cerci; Bristle-crests on underside of S7-8 (difficult to see); S8-side-thorns longer than a third of the length of S8; Size and shape. Striolatum and sanguineum are the only sympetrums flying here now. A Sanguineum would show the S8-side-thorn shorter than a third of S8. Only one exuvia found, but several imagines. Exuvia |