Broad and Very Scarlet.

With the days now drawing in and winter well on its way I like to think of brighter and warmer times.

What therefore could be better than remembering a hot and sunny day in Greece watching the Scarlet Darters,especially the males as they whizzed around defending their territories

On the continent this dragonfly is commonly known  as the Broad Scarlet.and is particularly abundant around the Mediterranean.There have been only six or so sightings of this spectacular dragonfly in the UK since the first record in 1995.At least one of these was on the Isle of Wight.

The Scarlet Darter(Crocthemis erythraea) is a sun loving species and from its origins in Africa has slowly spread through southern Europe northwards as far as the English Channel coast.The male has the most vividly red abdomen of all European dragonflies although the female is yellow-brown with a diagnostic pale stripe between the wing bases

Hopefully this darter will soon make a more regular appearance in the UK and add some Mediterranean colour to our countryside.