Common Darter
Sympetrum striolatum
The Common Darter has a large worldwide distribution, occurring from Japan to Western Europe and North Africa. It is also very common and ubiquitous throughout mainland Portugal. It spends the earlier months away from water, often in wooded areas where it is difficult to detect. After August, it returns to breeding habitats and becomes visible near rivers, ponds, and lakes
replenished by autumn rains (Maravalhas & Soares, 2013). It is a regular visitor to the Gulbenkian Garden’s lakes, where females can be seen laying eggs on the surface of the water, often accompanied by males clasping them by the back of the head.
Text: Eva Monteiro, Albano Soares, Renata Santos, Rui Félix, Cândida Ramos, Ricardo Ramirez and Patrícia Garcia-Pereira