Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Anisoptera |
| Family: | Libellulidae |
| Genus: | Sympetrum |
| Species: | S. Fonscolombii |
| Binomial name: | Sympetrum fonscolombii |
The Red Dragonfly, also known as the Red-Veined Darter or Nomad is technically known as Sympetrum Fonscolombii, and belongs to the Sympetrum genus. It is widespread in the southern parts of Europe, and since the 1990s, it has also become a common species in the northwestern part of Europe including Ireland and Britain. The behavior and the genetic evidence prove that this species is very much different from the other species of this same genus, and may be replaced by this genus in the future.
Description
The normal Red Dragonfly attains a length of 4cm, and a wingspan of 6cm. The male Red Dragonfly possesses a red abdomen, brighter than the other species of the Sympetrum genus. Their wings display red veins, and the base of the wings on the hind part are shaded yellow. The Pterostigma of this species is often pale that has a black vein in the border, and the under part of the creature’s eye has a grayish blue shade. The female Red Dragonfly also looks similar to the male, but their wings have yellow veins, and the abdomen shaded in yellow color. The legs of both the male and the female have a black and yellow shade. The juvenile Red Dragonfly looks similar to the female Red Dragonfly but has redder shade in their body.
Distribution and Habitat
This Red Dragonfly occurs in most parts of southern and central Europe, including the islands of Mediterranean regions, the regions of the Middle East and some regions of southwestern Asia like Sri-Lanka, India, and Mongolia. It was widely spread in the south of Europe, but now the range has extended towards the northern parts as well. It also occurs in the Madeira and Canary Islands, and supposed to be the only Libellulid (Wiki: the skimmers or perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world) present in the Azores.
Like the other dragonflies, it is also found near the water habitat for breeding, but otherwise, being a migrating creature, it is found away from the water. It can be seen flying over and around the sea area.
Behavior
The Red Dragonfly prefers to fly throughout the year around the area of the Mediterranean and its southern parts. But the main period of flight is from May to October, which declines by the winter period. This Red Dragonfly is referred as a territorial species, in which the male dragonfly is often seen resting on a perch. After mating, the male and the female dragonfly fly in tandem for laying eggs. As the time approaches for laying eggs, the female dragonfly is seen dipping her abdomen in the water to release the eggs. Like other insects, the dragonflies do not attain the pupa stage, instead they directly transform from the larvae stage to an adult Red Dragonfly. This species has more than one generation developing in a year, because the egg and the larval development take less than a period of 3 months. The speed of an adult Red Dragonfly may be about 56 km per hour.
Food
Like other dragonflies, the Red-Veined dragonfly is also an agile and voracious eater. They prefer eating a wide variety of insects. The adult dragonfly feeds on mosquitoes, ants, flies, fleas, butterflies and sometimes even other dragonflies too. The larvae dragonflies are also carnivorous in nature, and feeds on the insects found in the water habitat. It feeds on tadpoles, eggs of the fish, small fish and larvae of mosquitoes. The lower jaw, also termed as labium rests under their body, but shoot rapidly when its eyes fall on a prey. It is armed with hooks that help them to catch their prey.
Having discovered a fondness for insects while pursuing her degree in Biology, Randi Jones was quite bugged to know that people usually dismissed these little creatures as “creepy-crawlies”.
I live about 20 miles north of San Francisco, CA and I have a red dragonfly in my yard. I’ve never seen one before, and we have a lot of different kinds of dragonflies, which is why I looked it up. Is this an anomaly or have they now arrived in the U.S.?
I tried taking a couple of pictures of it, but even from just a few feet away, it looks pretty tiny.
Wow, I just looked it up for the same reason as you! We live about an hour and a half north of Los Angeles and we saw it yesterday for the first time ever and it was back again today.
I live on the Central coast of new Australia and I’m looking at one right now and have taken photos. So beautiful it us sitting on a plant stake. In my garden.
I ment to write New South Wales. Australia
I saw one yesterday in St. Augustine FL. I’ve never seen one before!!
I live in Por Orange, about 90 miniatures from St Augustine. I went to open my back door and one was perched on my door frame. It was so still, I thought it was dead. I said shoo, with my hand, and she flew away. This dragonfly has a spiritual meaning. I lost my oldest child 2 years ago. I thought it was a message. The insect flew to the fence watching me. As I took the trash out she flew beside me…..my heart!
Ditto! I’m on the Oregon Coast and have never seen one so I looked it up! It’s Beautiful!!
I’m in Saskatchewan Canada this lady week I have a lot of red dragon flies in my yard never seen one we normally have blue ones
I lived in Lethbridge Alberta and a large red coloured one bumped my leg and hovered around my leg for a few seconds and took off. I’ve rarely seen dragonflies let alone a red one.
I keep thinking I must have imagined it!
I live in Orange County California and have seen a few red dragonfly around a pond in Tustin for several years. I was fascinated by this unusual beauty. That was the only place I had ever seen a red dragonfly until yesterday I was sitting in my car in another city and there was one flitting around above the grass, no pond or water in sight.
Same here! Never seen one before until just yesterday, we live in Washington State in the Puget Sound.
I live in Lake Stevens and just saw one. I had to take a video since it was so beautiful!
Never seen one in my life! Majestic creature!
I’m in New York state and I saw one which brought me here
Wow I live in Manteca, CA and for the past week a red dragonfly has appeared everyday and sits on the same plant in my backyard from morning until dusk.
I see one every time I go to the Clubhouse pool in my community. I think it is the same one each time. It flies very close to us as we do our AquaFit class and kind of hovers over us.
Or could it be orange? The wings are orange, too.
I also looked it up today after seeing one for the first time in my life. I live in central Oklahoma. It was so incredibly unusual for this area.
I live in Victoria, TX between Corpus Christi and Houston. We saw one today, June 17n 2022. Pretty cool. Never seen a red dragonfly here before.
I live in Katy, Tx and I have had a red dragonfly to visit my pond for the past 2 yrs. This yr there are three. I love see them.
I live in Skagit Valley, 60 miles North of Seattle. My husband and I spotted a Red dragonfly today, June 27. We’ve never seen one before either.
I was fortunate to be in my yard this afternoon and saw a red dragonfly! Red is in bloom right now…. Turks Caps and Crepe Myrtle. I thought how spectacular….a red dragonfly too. And so rare. Austin, Texas (south)
I live in Livingston, LA and saw a red dragon fly 6/30/2022. Never seen one before. I thought it was so cool.
Just saw one in Dallas Texas area-very unusual and beautiful! 7/2/22
I live in Manvel Texas and saw my first one today
I just saw a rare red dragonfly at lake pillsbury, CA. First time seeing one!
Central Florida here! Just saw a couple of these red dragonflies while taking a walk today. Being a native Florida this was a first for me. A quick Google search brought me here. Wow!
Outside of Atlanta here (Loganville)! One red dragonfly amongst 1/2 dozen regulars. Landing on my sons finger while in the pool.
another first sighting of a red dragonfly,(“red veined darter”?) in Bellingham, WA. 20 miles south of the Canadian border. absolutely remarkable. had to Google it. crazy how many sightings seemed to have popped up in the US this summer.
Had one today, Cedar Park Texas July 10, 2022. I got a photo!
I had one in my garden today, first time i’ve seen it! WoW zo exciting! I’m in culver city, CA
I live in southeast Idaho and had one in my yard today! It was so surprising I had to look it up!:-)
I just saw one for the first time, and I live on the Eastern Shore of Virginia right on the Chesapeake Bay!
Saw one today in my yard. 33 years near Glendale, CA and the first time I saw one. Somehow they must have been recently released in the Los Angeles area. Seems many people have seen one lately. He’s welcome to all the mosquitos he can eat!
We have one here in Northern CA Garden Valley. It has been hovering over and around our pool! 🙂
We live in Lake Norman, 30 miles North of Charlotte and have a red dragon fly in our yard this summer.
I just saw one in my backyard, 30 miles north of San Francisco. I’ve never seen one before so I looked it up here. Any explanation for these unusual sightings in the US?
I’m in Vancouver, WA and I have a red dragon fly hanging around my yard. I’ve see it everyday for about a week. It’s actually pretty decent sized. It lands in the same spot and hangs out next to me.
I saw one in Kenya in the border of Nairobi and Ruiru.
Red Dragonfly photo taken – Bristol, NY July 25, 2022
Good. I thought i was the only New Yorker. I saw one last week.
Just saw one for the first time in Green Bay, WI was able to get an close up photo of it too
Saw one in my garden yesterday.
So special and amazing!
Oregon
Saw a Red Dragonfly this morning in Lake Cowichan Vancouver Island . This is the first time I have ever seen one I managed to get a couple of photos! So graceful.
Saw one today in Mt Tabor, Portland, OR!
Saw a red dragonfly this afternoon in my backyard pool area – Dallas, TX area. Like others I have never seen on before and looked it up here. It was so cool. He can have all our mosquitos!
I saw one in Fenwick Island DE today. Beautiful!
My sister passed 7.7.22 and told me before she died if it was at all possible,,she’d sent a dragonfly and I’d know she was safe and at peace! The next day a blue dragonfly circled me in the back yard for over 7 minutes?? On aug 15 a red dragonfly stayed within 3 ft of me in the garden for over an hour! I have so much footage! It’s the most blissful beautiful experience I’ve ever had!!!
Hi, my mom passed in December and since then I’ve seen red dragonflies off and on, never had before. I feel strongly it’s my mom visiting me. On my lowest of days is coincidentally when I see one. And yes, until recently I have never seen the red ones.
I just saw two red dragonflies together & did capture a picture of one. I’ve never seen one of these before! I
am located in Warren, Maine(Midcoast Maine)
I live in Mission Viejo, CA. Today I saw the largest dragonfly I have ever seen. He was brilliant red and the body was quite thick and bulky unlike most more delicate varieties. The temp outside was 101 at noon and I was power washing my deck.
He was very agressive and menacing, repeatedly dive bombing me. I am sure he was just wanting water!
9/11/22 I am in Central Massachusetts, USA and saw one for the first time- like the last commenter, it was divebombing my head, so the fear overshadowed the coolness a bit- now that I am safely indoors reading all these comments and that it eats mosquitos- I am much more appreciative.
North Americans commenting on seeing red dragonflies should realize they are not seeing the species in the article. North America has a number of different red Sympetrum species.
Coos Bay, OR.
I took pictures of the first one I have ever seen. I’m glad I had the opportunity.
Sorry wanted to add I’m in phoenix arizona.
I spotted one in Escondido park in Malibu, CA never seen a dragon fly that big and vibrant in my life. The way I could see it breathing and moving it’s head left to right was so intriguing.
Today we saw our first red dragonfly near a creek in Franklin Co., Nebraska. Later we saw several smaller ones near the Republican river. They were beautiful. Blue ones are common in Nebraska.
Just saw one this morning! Looking from a distance, I didn’t know what it was & thought, “wow, that’s a giant red wasp,” at first, then Googled “is there a red dragonfly” and found this thread. I’m in Tomball (Houston), Texas, so…a very rare sight here, for sure! GORGEOUS!
Saw the little red dragonfly here in Rockledge Florida
Saw one in Gulfport,Ms on May 27, 2023 , so pretty and cool ! I was like everyone look it a red dragon fly !!
I live in San Antonio, TX and have a pond in my backyard. I have several here daily! They are so beautiful!
I live on Vancouver Island,
There was a red dragonfly flying around my yard minutes ago.
I’ve never seen one before!
Tried to photograph it…but he was a little too quick for my simple camera.
I live in Cathlamet Washington saw my very first red dragonfly it was amazing. It flew around me and I got to watch it for maybe five minutes just seem to stay next to me.
When my grandson died, I seen these beautiful creatures for 2 years in a row all summer and had neverseen a red 1 before. Don’t see them often anymore
Live in Folsom CA and It is about a week I see a red dragon fly in my backyard. that stays for a while and land on a stick and then go It is beautiful. We dont live near pond or water. Now every afternoon look for it that maybe passing by our backyard! 🙂
Saw one the other day here in Albuquerque, about 4 or 5 miles from the river and no water nearby other then pools