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Sympetrum sanguineum couple mating


Sympetrum sanguineum couple mating
Photo Information
Copyright: Harm Alberts (Harm-digitaal) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 100 W: 2 N: 1535] (6040)
Genre: Animals
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2007-07-21
Categories: Insects
Camera: Canon EOS 300D, Canon EF 180mm f/3.5L USM Macro
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Passion Unlimited, European dragonflies 2, Mating, Insect Mating [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2007-07-21 12:28
Viewed: 640
Points: 21
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sympetrum sanguineum / Ruddy Darter female / Blutrote Heidelibelle / Sympétrum sanguin /Bloedrode heidelibel.

Common name: Ruddy Darter

Preferred environment: shallow well-vegetated lakes and ponds often in woodland. In Ireland associated with pools in fens and cutover bogs, small base-rich mesotrophic lakes and turlough-like lakes.

Flight period: mid June to mid October. In Ireland early June to mid September.

Adult habitat and habits: adults perch on edge of open spaces when feeding. Mature males occupy perches near breeding sites and defend small area around them. Perches often changed if no females encountered. Females are intercepted as they approach breeding sites and taken in tandem by males to bushes for copulation.

Oviposition site and behaviour: females oviposit usually when in tandem with male, over open water, clumps of plants or exposed muddy margins by dipping abdomen on water surface to wash off batches of eggs.

Larval habitat and habits: eggs either hatch within a few days of laying, or if laid late in season eggs will diapause until spring. Larval development takes one year. Larvae live amongst roots of aquatic plants including Typha and Equisetum.

Emergence behaviour: on vertical plant stems in early morning.

Range: southern and central Europe to southern most Fennoscandia, and to western Siberia. Absent from most of Mediterranean islands, southernmost Iberia and Italy. Very local in north Africa. In Ireland found as far north as Lough Neagh but principally in Midlands and Burren.

Determination of adults: species is keyed and diagnostic characters are figured in Askew (1988); mature adults are illustrated in colour in Askew (1988) and Brooks (1997).

Determination of larvae: keys to mature larvae in Askew (1988) and Brooks (1997).
Nelson, B., Thompson, R. & Morrow, C., 2000 (May 2). [In] DragonflyIreland http://www.ulstermuseum.org.uk/dragonflyireland

Widespread and locally common in suitable sites. Adults can be seen between mid June and September. The Ruddy Darter is found in fens, cutover bogs and small lakes including turloughs. There is some evidence for immigration.

This species is most likely to be confused with the Red-veined Darter Sympetrum fonscolombei and the Common Darter Sympetrum striolatum however the latter is more orange-red and has a straight sided abdomen and yellow stripes on the legs. Female Ruddy Darters are similar to female Black Darters Sympetrum danae however in the former there is no black triangular marking on the thorax.

KEY IDENTIFICATION FEATURES:
-mature males have noticeably waisted blood-red abdomen
-females dull yellow brown
-legs all black in both sexes

Source:http://www.habitas.org.uk/dragonflyireland/5650.htm

Hope you like it.
Harm
nglen, phlr, Ken52, GLEM, keanhoon, kjpweb has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • nglen Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2224 W: 10 N: 6266] (23542)
  • [2007-07-21 12:32]

Hi Harm. A very good close up off the pair together. good detail and colour. the eyes and legs are very good indeed. a nice POV/DOF. very well done TFs. with interesting notes
Nick..
Havea good weekend.

  • Great 
  • keko Silver Note Writer [C: 6 W: 0 N: 10] (170)
  • [2007-07-21 13:03]

Wow!

Impressive capture, perfect POV, too bad the female would have required a little more DOF. Anyhow amazing shot, love the colors!

Kamasutra. Very good

Hi Harm,
this moment is breathtaking and the light so wonderful. A fantastic shot, thanks.
I'm sad I have not much time to go out in these days. I have to work the whole weekend because we change our computer-system in the bank. So thanks for your shot - giving me a little new power, bye
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Hi Harm,

great moment capture! What about their privacy? ;)
Excellent details

TFS!

Gio

  • Great 
  • Ken52 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 663 W: 98 N: 1262] (4187)
  • [2007-07-21 14:11]

Outstanding detail and excellent light. The colors are excellent and this is very educational post because we can see so clearly the mating process and the difference in color of the male and female. Nice composition.

  • Great 
  • GLEM Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 524 W: 87 N: 695] (5747)
  • [2007-07-21 14:47]

salut Harm,
on a l'habitude de voir des DAMSELFLY en accouplement mais des DRAGONFLY beaucoup moins, voici donc une image rare. Mise à part une lumière que je trouve un peu trop présente, l'ensemble est bien composé, avec une netteté satisfaisante.

well done
tfs
gl

Hi Harm,
Good light.
Well composed.
TFS
Annick

Great DOF and POV. Exposure is excellent.
TFS

  • Great 
  • kjpweb Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 367 W: 86 N: 1084] (4788)
  • [2007-07-22 10:42]

Great capture - Good light and detail - seems as if their working the Kamasutra! ;) Kudos for catching and sharing! Cheers, Klaus

  • Good 
  • lousat Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1132 W: 6 N: 3128] (11576)
  • [2007-07-22 13:24]

oooo italians insects do it better ..hehehe..very nice pic.

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