Species account

Gulvinget Hedelibel (Sympetrum flaveolum)    (Linnaeus, 1758)
   Libeller (Libellulidae) [Guldsmede]    YWDA    24833
Yellow-winged Darter (gb)   Libélula Montana (es)   Gulfläckad Ängstrollslända (se)  
Synonyms (scientific):
Libellula rubra Müller, 1764
Libellula aurea Scopoli, 1772
Sympetrum austrinum Akramowski, 1948
Measurements:
To 32-37mm Ab 19-27mm Hw 23-32mm
Generations:
Flight period:
JFMAMJJASOND 
SE
EU
Identification:
note: mature male wing marks red above whitish below.
Similar species:
Life stages:
The mating lasts only a few minutes and takes place in the vegetation near the water. The female, in tandem, drops the eggs over low water or the dried out parts next to the waters edge. The eggs overwinter and hatch the following spring. The larvae live in-between the water plants or at the bottom, and develop during 2-3 months (same season). Imago-transformation takes place on vegetation in or near the water.
Distribution:
Central Europe and patchily throughout the entire perimeter; absent most of the Iberian peninsula, most of Italy, Greece and northern Fennoscandinavia. Very local in Ireland and Scotland. Also present Baltic states, Turkey, Ukraine and Russia through the continent via Mongolia to China and Japan. In Denmark mainly seen NE Sjælland and Jylland with observations throughout all regions, though.
Habitat:
Behavior:
Larvae prefer warm and shallow waters.
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
LC(global) EN(eu) EN(EU) LC(dk). A fluctuating species that used to be more common in Denmark, and Europe in general. In our region most often seen when invasions occur, otherwise only single animals show up now and then. More common in surrounding countries. Last invasion in Denmark was 2018-19. In 2023 only 2 records from Jylland, some 10 individuals in 2024 and relatively many records in eastern Denmark in 2025. Amager
Comment:
Yellow-winged Darter 3352    (1 photos)
2020-08-10    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd. Lifer!
In the tall grass north of the dirt road.



Yellow-winged Darter 426    (7 photos BOTH SIDES)
2020-08-11    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Granatsø.
A lifer. Unmistakable when seen like this. Only found this individual. During a period with very hot southeasterly winds.



Yellow-winged Darter 3353    (2 photos)
2020-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Flaveolum-lysningen.



Yellow-winged Darter 3356    (4 photos BOTH SIDES)
2020-08-14    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Viben.



Yellow-winged Darter 560    (3 photos BOTH SIDES)
2021-08-01    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
Glad to find it again this year. In tall grass away from water.



Yellow-winged Darter 1012    (1 photos)
2022-07-31    Røsnæs-halvøen, Denmark

Imago Han
Young. The tip of the peninsula, at the edge of the waterhole south of the road just below Naturskolen.

I had been occupied by a Blue-eyed Hawker when I suddenly spotted this animal on the ground. There were several darters around, but all checked were Ruddys, why I assumed all present were of this species. I therefore might have overlooked other yellow-winged among them. I lost it when it flew up.

Cool to see how the yellow color of the wing patch is transmitted onto the ground.



Yellow-winged Darter 3319    (2 photos)
2025-07-20    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd. The southern pond that still holds water. One of three males seen today.



Yellow-winged Darter 3317    (3 photos)
2025-07-20    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd. The southern pond that still holds water.
One of three males seen today. It's been three years since I last saw the species, and four years ago I had a male at this same spot. Attracted by the tall grasses and the drying out ponds.



Yellow-winged Darter 3318    (7 photos BOTH SIDES)
2025-07-20    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd. The southern pond that still holds water.
One of three males seen today.



Yellow-winged Darter 3324    (1 photos)
2025-07-23    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd. Southern waterhole.
Probably one of the males from July 20, though I can't match them on details. But with the appearance changing as the animal gets older, they might already have change too much to say for sure.



Yellow-winged Darter 3323    (1 photos)
2025-07-23    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd. Wet patch behind the thicket.
In the same spot as 3318 from July 20, but I'm not convinced it's the same animal.



Yellow-winged Darter 3344    (3 photos)
2025-07-26    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
SHV-vest.
A single male at a promissing site with big patches of tall grasses. But I only found this one animal.



Yellow-winged Darter 3346    (2 photos)
2025-07-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
One of six males today in the tall grass south of the waterhole.



Yellow-winged Darter 3347    (1 photos)
2025-07-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
One of six males today in the tall grass south of the waterhole.



Yellow-winged Darter 3348    (2 photos BOTH SIDES)
2025-07-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
One of six males today in the tall grass south of the waterhole.



Yellow-winged Darter 3349    (1 photos)
2025-07-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
One of six males today in the tall grass south of the waterhole.



Yellow-winged Darter 3350    (2 photos)
2025-07-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
One of six males today in the tall grass south of the waterhole.



Yellow-winged Darter 3351    (1 photos)
2025-07-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
One of six males today in the tall grass south of the waterhole.



Yellow-winged Darter 3327    (3 photos)
2025-08-05    Lergravene (St. Magleby), Denmark

Imago Han
Two males present at the small and drying out water hole, where the present bull calfs have made a good effort to destroy the biotope. There was quite a good number of sanguineum [Blodrød Hedelibel] present, but still the yellow-winged managed to defend their territories close to the water. No females seen.

Male 1: photo 1-2.
Male 2: photo 3.



Yellow-winged Darter 3342    (2 photos)
2025-08-06    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
SHV-lysninger.



Yellow-winged Darter 3337    (1 photos)
2025-08-08    Lergravene (St. Magleby), Denmark

Imago Han
Vestlige vandhul.
Very likely one of the same two males also present three days ago.



Yellow-winged Darter 3332    (5 photos BOTH SIDES)
2025-08-09    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
Four different males - photos: 1, 2, 3-4, 5. Three of them in the tall grass at the southern-most end and one at the now dry hole behind the thicket and wet water hole.



Yellow-winged Darter 3395    (4 photos)
2025-08-26    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Granatsø.
Only animals here this year. Was connected to a female sanguineum at first, but they split up, and she continued to lay eggs alone.

Photo documentation mainly to show how difficult it can be to perceive the species characters if seen from the wrong angle.



Yellow-winged Darter 3381    (2 photos)
2025-09-04    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
Probably the same as two days later.
When not seen well, as seen in photo 1, it goes easily under the radar, and could be taken for a sanguineum.

Compared to earlier in the season the animals are now found close to the water.



Yellow-winged Darter 3373    (2 photos)
2025-09-06    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Han
Strandengen-syd.
Still hanging out around the big waterhole, which now holds some water, after the whole-day rain yesterday. The wideangle lens doesn't provide much detail, but the large yellow patches on the hindwings should be obvious.



Yellow-winged Darter 3354    (3 photos BOTH SIDES)
2020-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Flaveolum-lysningen.
One of two females today.



Yellow-winged Darter 3355    (6 photos BOTH SIDES)
2020-08-12    Kalvebod Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Flaveolum-lysningen.
One of two females today.



Yellow-winged Darter 3316    (5 photos BOTH SIDES)
2025-07-20    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Strandengen-syd. The southern pond that still holds water.
Egg-laying.

I think, this female caught my attention because it was moving in an unusual way. A solitary female swinging over dry long grass. Our common Sympetrum species normally lay eggs in tandem, and then there was the paleness of the abdomen that wasn't the right tone for the usual species either. I then saw the doble black lines down the side of the abdomen and my first female of the species was a reality.

She kept egg-dropping for several minutes, and a one moment a red male came in to harrass her, but she rejected him, and continued her business. And then she was probably harrassed again, but this time by the larger carnivor dangling on two legs right in front of her, and she retreated to the top of the bush, and later disappeared.



Yellow-winged Darter 3345    (3 photos BOTH SIDES)
2025-07-28    Amager Fælled, Denmark

Imago Hun
Strandengen-syd.
In the tall grass south of the waterhole.