| The Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) is Britain's smallest
resident dragonfly. The males of this small heathland and moorland species
are the only black dragonflies in the United Kingdom. It breeds in ponds,
bog pools and drainage ditches. The legs are entirely black and with maturity
they have a black frons (the uppermost part of the head of an insect) and
thorax. Some yellow marking usually remain along the sides of the abdomen
and thorax. Female Black Darters and immature males have a yellow abdomen
and brown thorax marked with a black triangle on top. The side of the thorax
and the lower part of the abdomen is strongly marked in black. |
