# Vagrant Darter (*Sympetrum vulgatum*) The Vagrant Darter is a colorful dragonfly that loves to flutter around ponds and marshes. With its bright red body, it looks like a tiny superhero flying in the sky! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![Vagrant Darter](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Sympetrum_vulgatum_LC0368.jpg&width=800) Photo: Jörg Hempel, CC BY-SA 3.0 de · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sympetrum_vulgatum_LC0368.jpg) ## Appearance The Vagrant Darter is a medium-sized dragonfly with a robust body. Males are typically reddish-orange with distinct black markings on their legs and thorax. Females are more yellowish-brown, and both sexes have a noticeable dark spot (pterostigma) near the tip of their clear wings. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Odonata - **Family:** Libellulidae - **Genus:** Sympetrum ## Interesting facts - A darter's huge eyes have thousands of tiny lenses, like having lots of mini-eyes! - Dragonfly babies, called nymphs, live underwater for years before they fly! - Older male darters can change their body color from yellow to bright red! - Vagrant Darters can fly forwards, backwards, and even hover like a tiny helicopter! ## Special abilities - **Aerial Acrobatics:** Vagrant Darter can quickly change direction mid-air because of its independently controlled wings, helping them hunt and escape predators. - **Super Sight:** Vagrant Darter has huge compound eyes that see 360 degrees around, helping them spot tiny insect prey and potential threats. - **Gripping Grabbers:** Vagrant Darter can catch flying insects with its spiky front legs, creating a 'basket' to scoop up prey in flight. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 60-75 mm - **Size:** 35-45 mm - **Lifespan:** 30-90 days - **Flight Speed:** 20 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding These speedy hunters zoom through the air to catch tiny flying insects with amazing skill! - **Age differences:** Nymphs eat small aquatic invertebrates like mosquito larvae underwater. - **Primary Foods:** mosquitoes, midges, flies, gnats - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Hunts:** Mosquito (*Culex pipiens*) — Adult darters catch them in flight. - **Eaten by:** [European Perch](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-perch) (*Perca fluviatilis*) — Fish prey on darter nymphs underwater. - **Eaten by:** [Common Blackbird](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-blackbird) (*Turdus merula*) — Birds may snatch adult darters. ## Traits - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [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. - [Speedster](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/speedster): This trait identifies organisms that exhibit exceptional swiftness in movement for hunting, escape, or travel. - [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants. ## Collections - [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Dragonflies are friendly and won't hurt you, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Vagrant 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 Vagrant Darter's wingspan? 60-75 mm ### How big is Vagrant Darter? 35-45 mm ### How long does Vagrant Darter live? 30-90 days ### How fast can Vagrant Darter fly? 20 km/h ### What does Vagrant Darter eat? These speedy hunters zoom through the air to catch tiny flying insects with amazing skill! ### Where is Vagrant Darter usually found? Wetlands ### How does Vagrant Darter hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Bergedorfer Schlosspark (Hamburg)](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/bergedorfer-schlosspark-hamburg) — Hamburg, DE · Park ## 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: [Vagrant Darter: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/vagrant-darter)