Crocothemis – Scarlets

144. Broad Scarlet – Scarlet Darter – Crocothemis erythraea – UK – European Dragonfly photo

The Broad Scarlet or Scarlet Darter ( Crocothemis erythraea ) is a common species on the Continent and throughout Africa. It is expanding its range steadily northward and was first recorded in the U.K. in 1995. It is popularly known as the ‘Croc’.

KEY I/D FEATURES

An unmistakeable species with the broad bodied males appearing almost all scarlet red having no black markings. The wing bases have deep yellow patches and the pterostigma are also yellow.

Young males and females have yellow bodies with the same overall broad shape. The most prominent feature on the female is a distinct whitish dorsal stripe on the thorax, plus pale antehumeral stripes. A number of females also become red tinted as in the last photograph.