# Common Darter (*Sympetrum striolatum*) The Common Darter is a friendly little dragonfly that flits around ponds and streams. They have bright yellow and black markings that make them easy to spot! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wetlands, ponds, and streams - **Also known as:** Common Emerald Darter, Emerald Darter ![Common Darter](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424731/objects/5509.jpg) ## Appearance The Common Darter is a small, broad-bodied dragonfly, typically fiery red-orange in males and yellowish-brown in females. It has clear wings with a distinct small yellow-orange patch near the tip and dark markings along its legs. These colours make it stand out against green vegetation. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Sympetrum ## Interesting facts - Male darters often perform a special “mating wheel” in the air with a female. - Sometimes, they migrate long distances across countries in large groups. - Their babies live underwater for up to two years before becoming flying adults! - They shed their entire skin multiple times as they grow from a nymph to an adult. ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobat:** Common Darter can fly forwards, backwards, and hover perfectly because of its four independently-moving wings. - **Laser Vision:** Common Darter has huge compound eyes that help them spot tiny insect prey from far away. - **Ambush Hunter:** Common Darter can dart from a perch to snatch unsuspecting insects right out of the air. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 50-70 mm - **Size:** 35-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-60 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding This swift insect hunter loves to feast on other smaller flying insects near water. - **Age differences:** Larvae (nymphs) are also predatory, hunting aquatic invertebrates like water fleas and small insect larvae. - **Primary Foods:** Mosquitoes, Midges, Flies, Gnats, Small butterflies - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Blackbird (*Turdus merula*) — Blackbirds prey on adult darters for food. - **Eaten by:** Common Frog (*Rana temporaria*) — Frogs feast on both adult darters and their aquatic nymphs. - **Hunts:** Common House Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adult darters are expert hunters of flying mosquitoes. - **Hunts:** Water Flea (*Daphnia pulex*) — Young darter nymphs hunt tiny water fleas in ponds. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Aerial](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aerial): Aerial creatures spend a significant portion of their lives airborne, utilizing flight for various activities such as hunting, migration, or nesting. - [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors. - [Insectivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/insectivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet primarily consists of insects and other small invertebrates. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Common Darter? Compare wing shape and resting posture, where the eyes sit, body markings and the tail segments. Males and females can look very different in color. Dragonfly Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### What is Common Darter's wingspan? 50-70 mm ### How big is Common Darter? 35-45 mm ### How long does Common Darter live? 30-60 days ### How fast can Common Darter fly? 20 km/h ### What does Common Darter eat? This swift insect hunter loves to feast on other smaller flying insects near water. ### Where is Common Darter usually found? Wetlands, ponds, and streams ### How does Common Darter hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Zoo de Castellar](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoo-de-castellar) — Andalusia, ES · Zoo - [Monkey World](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/monkey-world) — England, GB · Zoo - [Volkspark Marienberg (Nürnberg)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/volkspark-marienberg-nurnberg) — Bayern, DE · Park - [Doñana National Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/do-ana-national-park) — Andalusia, ES · National Park [View all places to see Common Darter](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/common-darter) ## More Insects - [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*) - [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*) - [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*) - [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*) --- Source: [Common Darter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-darter)