Sympetrum sanguineum (Ruddy Darter) is present and mostly common in most of Europe, absent only in northern Scandinavia and Scotland. Its area of distribution stretches to northern Africa in the south and Siberia in the east.
Ruddy Darters look rather similar to S. vulgatum (Moustached Darter) and S. striolatum (Common Darter) but in contrast to those species, the legs of Ruddy Darters are completely black, lacking a yellow line on the outside.
Variation: in southwestern Turkey, Ruddy Darters often show large orange patches in the wings, especially around the wing bases and nodes. Individuals like that can be confused with Yellow-winged Darters (S. flaveolum) but their legs are completely black.
in and around Europe
