Black Darter Dragon Flies Paired SCO 6944
Breeding This Darter is restricted to acidic shallow pools, lake margins and ditches in lowland heath and moorland bogs, usually with bog-mosses and rushes. Eggs are laid in flight by dipping the tip of the abdomen into the water. The eggs hatch the following Spring and the larvae develop very rapidly, emerging after as little as two months. Behaviour Males frequently bask in the sun, on open ground. The flight action is rather skittish resembling the Ruddy Darter. Males are not territorial, but actively seek out females. This species is the smallest of Britain’s dragonflies. Although not as colourful as some other dragonflies it is a lovely dragonfly to watch. They often perch on a sunny spot on the ground. Their flight is a little skittish, and often flies away as you approach, but sometimes it is in a 'friendly mood' and lets you get very close. Sometimes they may even land on an observer’s hand. Population and conservation In the British Isles, this dragonfly is very locally distributed in the lowlands, but more widespread in the north-west and Ireland. It is often very locally abundant and maybe this triggers dispersal. Records from the south coast suggest that immigration from the continent does occur. Its main threats, however, are development, drainage, agriculture and peat extraction.
Size: 4014px × 5226px
Location: Boat of Garten, Strathspey, Inverness-shire, Highland Region, Scotland
Photo credit: © David Gowans / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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