Hi all,

out with the camera today, managed to get a few shots of what I think is a Common Darter. Am I correct?

Many thanks.

Male Highland darter, sympetrum nigrescens, that one will eventually become black , nice photos , easker1

Thanks for the reply easker1. I'm curious though, what markings would tell you this is a Highland Darter over a Common Darter? (especially considering its location: North Wales, where as the Highland Darter is found predominantly in Western Scotland). I see there is some conjecture whether the two are actually distinct species.

Another angle may help:

I think your right that it's a Common Darter (Sympertrum striolatum) from North Wales.

Here is an extract from Steve Brooks' great book ‘Field Guide to the Dragonflies and Damselflies of Great Britain and Ireland’ regarding the Highland Darter:

“The validity of this taxon as a species distinct from the Common Darter has been questioned by several dragonfly specialists in recent years. Specimens resembling the Common Darter but with more extensive black markings, particularly on the side of the thorax and underside of the abdomen, have been referred to as the Highland Darter.

Such specimens are generally restricted to north-west Scotland and western Ireland. However, the extent and intensity of the dark markings are variable, leading to ambiguity, and many specimens cannot be assigned to either taxon with certainty. It seems likely that the Highland Darter will prove to be a melanic colour form of the Common Darter.

It is a common feature of many insect species that those individuals occurring at the northern extremities of a species' range exhibit dark colour forms. The dark colour may assist in maintaining high body temperatures in cold climates. There are also subtle but inconstant differences in the structure of the male secondary genitalia and female vulvar scale, and some authors regard this as an indication that the Common and Highland Darter do not interbreed. DNA-fingerprinting of northern populations of the two taxa may help to resolve this taxonomic problem and establish whether or not they are distinct species. Steve Brooks”

ps great images OB

the lighter markings on the Thorax and the colour of the wing markings
( Pterostigma), My Dragonfly book lists"nigrescens" and "Striolatum"as occuring together , we get common darters here in the highlands as well,
my book is the Dragonflies of Gt Britain and Ireland by C O Hammond, revised by
R Merritt easker1

Brilliant shots.
Imagine that scaled up with a machine gun mounted underneath

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In a close up thats a mean looking dude

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