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Sympetrum striolatum
Looks to me more like a Plain Darter, S. vulgatum, but that species is only listed at the far end of the Mediterranean. Desert Darter, S. sinaiticum, is also similar but not found this far inland?
Scrubland near woods
Spotted on Oct 2, 2016
Submitted on Oct 7, 2016
![[Sympetrum fonscolombii]](https://lh4.ggpht.com/jL2Mu9wH0iczRaz6W0S0c0HAVr_YLXSKhfRw1MA5-vJn2mzQTaOO8U7YG6EtZN_s3jZSH5QfB8V171gVaik=s62-c)
2 Comments
PS: S. vulgatum females also show a VERY prominent vulvar scale, sticking down almost at 90 degrees. This vulvar scale is very S. striolatum.
Yes, Malcolm, elderly female Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) it is. The abdominal side markings are classic.
As you say, females of both S. vulgatum and S. sinaiticum are very similar but S. sinaiticum would show relatively strong dark marks on the high side of S2&3 (not present here) and S. vulgatum would show quite strong black descending the side of the frons (also not here).
You took the right pictures. ;-)