Here’s a deep overview of the Black Darter (Sympetrum danae), one of Europe’s smallest and darkest dragonflies.

🪁 Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)

🔹 Taxonomy

Order: Odonata
Suborder: Anisoptera (Dragonflies)
Family: Libellulidae (Skimmer dragonflies)
Genus: Sympetrum
Species: S. danae

🌍 Distribution and Range

The Black Darter is a Holarctic species found across:

Europe: Common in northern and central Europe; less frequent in southern Mediterranean regions.
Asia: Siberia, northern China, Mongolia, Japan.
North America: Found in Canada and northern U.S. states, where it is called the Black Meadowhawk.

Most abundant in northern climates and upland habitats.

🏞️ Habitat

Prefers acidic wetlands, bogs, and heathland pools.
Found in shallow, nutrient-poor ponds with sphagnum moss.
Adults forage in meadows and open sunny clearings, often perching low on vegetation.

✨ Identification Features

The smallest European darter dragonfly (wingspan 50–60 mm).

Males:
- Entirely black body with dark face and legs.
- Wings often with a smoky base.
Females & immature males:
- Yellowish-brown with black markings.
- Ageing females may darken significantly.
All sexes:
- Narrow abdomen compared to other darters.
- Characteristic black pterostigma (wing spots).

🌸 Diet and Role

Adults: Feed on small flying insects such as midges, mosquitoes, and flies.
Larvae (nymphs): Aquatic, ambushing small aquatic invertebrates and occasionally tadpoles.

Ecological Role:

Natural controller of insect populations.
Important prey for birds, frogs, and spiders.

🔄 Life Cycle

Eggs: Laid in flight, dropped into shallow water or onto floating vegetation.
Larvae: Develop over 1–2 years, depending on climate; adapted to cold, acidic bog pools.
Emergence: Adults typically appear from June to October, peaking in late summer.
Adults: Short-lived, surviving only a few weeks after mating.

🦋 Behavior

Less territorial than larger dragonflies.
Often found in groups, basking on low vegetation.
Males patrol small areas but do not chase rivals aggressively.
Weak fliers compared to other darters, often perching more than flying.

⚖️ Conservation Status

IUCN: Least Concern.
Still widespread, but populations are declining in parts of Europe due to:
- Loss of bog habitats.
- Drainage and peat extraction.
- Pollution and climate change (drying of wetlands).

✅ In summary:
The Black Darter (Sympetrum danae) is a small, dark dragonfly specialized for bogs and acidic wetlands. Its males are strikingly black, while females are yellow-brown, turning darker with age. Although still widespread, it is a sensitive species whose future depends on the protection of bog and heathland ecosystems.