Species account

Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)    Müller (1764)
   Skimmers (Libellulidae)    RUDA    24831
Blodrød Hedelibel (dk)   Libélula Sanguínea (es)   Blodröd Ängstrollslända (se)  
Measurements:
To 34-39mm Ab 20-24mm Hw 23-31mm
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
SE
EU
Identification:
Appearance:
The colors (yellow-green or deep red), the all black legs and the T-shape on top of the thorax separate it from the other darters in Denmark. Is also smaller. Often looks darkish when just seen flying around.
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating wheel is established in flight but the mating takes place in the shoreside vegetation and lasts only a few minutes. The female drops the eggs from tandem over low water or the drier parts next to the shore. The eggs (yellow-white) are much larger than the eggs of other species in Denmark. They overwinter and hatch the following spring. The larvae develop during 2-3 months (same season). The imago-transformation takes place near the water.
Distribution:
Most of Europe; absent Scotland, most of Norway, northern half of Fennoscandinavia and patchily Iberian peninsula. Also present NW Africa and east through Turkey, the Black Sea region and Near Orient through Iran to Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. Also patchily Russian Federation to C Asia. In Denmark widespread and seen in all regions.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Status:
LC(global) LC(eu) LC(dk). Common in all parts of Denmark. Expanding north in both Sweden and Finland.
Comment:
Ruddy Darter 406    (1 photos)
2020-07-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark


The most common dragonfly at this locality. The black T-shape just behind the eyes is characteristic of the species plus the all black legs.



Ruddy Darter 452    (1 photos)
2020-07-13    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago
Probably female.



Ruddy Darter 454    (2 photos)
2020-07-13    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago
Likely immature male with narrow waste and weak red coloration.



Ruddy Darter 438    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male




Ruddy Darter 439    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
The T-shape and the pale brownish wing marks very obvious here.



Ruddy Darter 441    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male




Ruddy Darter 436    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Some individuals show a hint of yellow at the wing based, mostly the hind wing.



Ruddy Darter 435    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Black T-shape on thorax, club shaped abdomen, black legs. Así.



Ruddy Darter 532    (1 photos)
2021-07-07    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Becoming red. Black legs, some moustache and Thorax-T.



Ruddy Darter 1903    (3 photos)
2022-06-30    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male




Ruddy Darter 1904    (2 photos)
2022-06-30    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Young.



Ruddy Darter 1941    (1 photos)
2022-07-14    Bøtø-skoven, Denmark

Imago Male
Young.



Ruddy Darter 1008    (1 photos)
2022-07-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
A young male with tightly positioned appendages and visible genitalia on the underside of S2.



Ruddy Darter 1110    (1 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Male
Typical male from above.



Ruddy Darter 1542    (2 photos)
2023-06-15    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Young. Sydmølletværvej.
A few have been seem already according to naturbasen.dk during the last few weeks, but this is my earliest animal in Denmark of the species ever, or darter in general.




Ruddy Darter 1601    (1 photos)
2023-06-20    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Enghøj.
The darter season has started early as expected after the long hot period we've had recently.




Ruddy Darter 2115    (1 photos)
2023-08-03    Grene Sande/Gyttegårds Plantage, Denmark

Imago Male




Ruddy Darter 2196    (1 photos)
2023-08-13    Halvmånesøen (Tranegilde-Ishøj), Denmark

Imago Male


Hands on

Ruddy Darter 2354    (1 photos)
2023-09-15    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male
Dæmningen, Landskabelige Kanal.



Ruddy Darter 413    (2 photos)
2020-07-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
The all black legs and the black T-shape on the front of the breast indicate this species.



Ruddy Darter 455    (2 photos)
2020-07-13    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female




Ruddy Darter 453    (4 photos)
2020-07-14    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female




Ruddy Darter 451    (2 photos)
2020-07-14    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
I think it's the same individual in both photos, appearing differently because of the angle.



Ruddy Darter 1905    (1 photos)
2022-06-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
Young. Not often you find sympetrum species hanging vertically like this.



Ruddy Darter 1007    (2 photos)
2022-07-29    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
Many present today.



Ruddy Darter 1108    (1 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Female
Dark and mature individual.



Ruddy Darter 1111    (1 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Female
Mature female egg-laying. Was heavily distracted by the two males in the background.



Ruddy Darter 2394    (3 photos)
2023-09-05    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female
A dark mature female with restricted moustache, almost looking like a striolatum [Stor Hedelibel].

Aberrant

Ruddy Darter 2304    (1 photos)
2023-09-11    Bastemosen (Bornholm), Denmark

Imago Female
Grabbed by a male vulgatum [Almindelig Hedelibel]. This is known to happen, and perhaps not so unusual in spots where there is a lack of females of own species, as might be the case with vulgatum here at Bastemosen. The vast majority of darters here are Ruddy Darters.

Rare

Ruddy Darter 2355    (1 photos)
2023-09-15    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Female




Ruddy Darter 3280    (1 photos)
2025-06-21    Björkadammen (Skåne), Sweden

Imago Female
Young. Some 40 animals today.



Ruddy Darter 440    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Mating.



Ruddy Darter 437    (1 photos)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Male and female connected. He grabs on to her head with his appendages, and she swings the abdomen up to reach his genital area at the lower back of the thorax.



Ruddy Darter 1034    (3 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Males actively swinging the female in between the vegetation while egg-dropping.



Ruddy Darter 1077    (1 photos)
2022-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Enghøj sø. Mating wheel.
Good numbers these days.




Ruddy Darter 1109    (1 photos)
2022-09-01    Jægersborg Dyrehave, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Mating wheel.



Ruddy Darter 2168    (4 photos)
2023-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Granathøj.



Ruddy Darter 2295    (1 photos)
2023-09-01    Travbaneparken, Denmark

Imago Male & Female
Plejehjemsdammen.
Tandem with a rather red female.