''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer
dragonflies
A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of true dragonfly are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threa ...
, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in
North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocean, to the east by the Atlantic Ocean, to the southeast by South America and the Car ...
. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the
temperate
In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...
zone of the
Northern Hemisphere
The Northern Hemisphere is the half of Earth that is north of the Equator. For other planets in the Solar System, north is defined as being in the same celestial hemisphere relative to the invariable plane of the solar system as Earth's Nort ...
; no ''Sympetrum'' species is native to
Australia
Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...
.
Most North American darters fly in late summer and autumn, breeding in
pond
A pond is an area filled with water, either natural or artificial, that is smaller than a lake. Defining them to be less than in area, less than deep, and with less than 30% emergent vegetation helps in distinguishing their ecology from th ...
s and foraging over
meadow
A meadow ( ) is an open habitat, or field, vegetated by grasses, herbs, and other non-woody plants. Trees or shrubs may sparsely populate meadows, as long as these areas maintain an open character. Meadows may be naturally occurring or artifi ...
s. Commonly, they are yellow-gold as juveniles, with mature males and some females becoming bright red on part or all of their bodies. An exception to this color scheme is the black darter (''
Sympetrum danae
''Sympetrum danae'', the black darter or black meadowhawk is a dragonfly found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly. It is a very active late summer insect typical of heathland ...
'').
The
genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
includes the following species:
*'' Sympetrum ambiguum'' – blue-faced meadowhawk
*''
Sympetrum anomalum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
Sympetrum baccha
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
Sympetrum commixtum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
''
*''
Sympetrum cordulegaster
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
''
*''
Sympetrum corruptum
The variegated meadowhawk (''Sympetrum corruptum'') is a dragonfly of the family Libellulidae, native to North America.
Description
The variegated meadowhawk is a small to medium-sized dragonfly with a slender abdomen, often reaching a length ...
'' – variegated meadowhawk
*''
Sympetrum costiferum
The saffron-winged meadowhawk (''Sympetrum costiferum'') is a dragonfly
A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of true dragonfly are known. Most are trop ...
'' – saffron-winged meadowhawk
*''
Sympetrum croceolum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
''
*''
Sympetrum daliensis
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
''
*''
Sympetrum danae
''Sympetrum danae'', the black darter or black meadowhawk is a dragonfly found in northern Europe, Asia, and North America. At about long, it is Britain's smallest resident dragonfly. It is a very active late summer insect typical of heathland ...
'' – black darter, black meadowhawk
*''
Sympetrum darwinianum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
Sympetrum dilatatum
The St. Helena Darter (''Sympetrum dilatatum'') was a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae. It was endemic to Saint Helena. In 2021, it was declared extinct by the IUCN
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN; offi ...
Sympetrum eroticum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
Sympetrum fonscolombii
The red-veined darter or nomad (''Sympetrum fonscolombii'') is a dragonfly of the genus ''Sympetrum''.
Taxonomy
There is genetic and behavioural evidence that ''S. fonscolombii'' is not closely related to the other members of the genus ''Sympetr ...
Sympetrum gilvum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
Sympetrum haematoneura
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
Sympetrum himalayanum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
''
*''
Sympetrum hypomelas
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
Sympetrum imitans
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
Sympetrum internum
The cherry-faced meadowhawk (''Sympetrum internum'') is a dragonfly of the genus ''Sympetrum''. It is found across northern and central United States and most of Canada, including southern portions of the Yukon and Northwest Territories. Its abd ...
Sympetrum maculatum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
Sympetrum meridionale
''Sympetrum meridionale'', the southern darter, is a species of dragonfly belonging to the Skimmer family Libellulidae.
Description
The adults grow up to long. The wingspan reaches .
The abdomen of adult males is orange-reddish, without black ...
Sympetrum obtrusum
The White-faced Meadowhawk (''Sympetrum obtrusum'') is a dragonfly of the genus ''Sympetrum''. It is found in the northern United States and southern Canada. Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive pure white face and red bodies.Dunkle, S.W. ...
Sympetrum parvulum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Symp ...
Sympetrum rubicundulum
The ruby meadowhawk (''Sympetrum rubicundulum'') is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae. It is found in northern United States and southern Ontario, Canada. Adult males are identifiable by a distinctive orange to brown face and red ...
Sympetrum sanguineum
The ruddy darter (''Sympetrum sanguineum'') is a species of dragonfly of the family Libellulidae.
Distribution
The ruddy darter is to be found in temperate regions throughout Europe
*'' Sympetrum semicinctum'' – band-winged meadowhawk
*''
Sympetrum signiferum
''Sympetrum signiferum'', known generally as the spot-winged meadowhawk or balsam, is a species of skimmer in the dragonfly family Libellulidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
The IUCN conservation status of ''Sympetrum signi ...
Sympetrum speciosum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no ''Sympetr ...
Sympetrum tibiale
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...
Sympetrum villosum
''Sympetrum'' is a genus of small to medium-sized Libellulidae, skimmer dragonfly, dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in North America. The more than 50 species predominantly live in the temperate zone of the Northern ...