About the Banded Darter
Sympetrum pedemontanum, the banded darter, is a dragonfly belonging to the genus Sympetrum. It is characterized by its small stature, dark wing bands, and red or yellow body. It lives in areas with low vegetation and stagnant or weakly flowing bodies of water. Although debate exists regarding the taxa's relationship to others in its genus, it can most commonly be identified by its wing bands, bilobed prothorax, and possibly its genitalia.
It is wide spread across Eurasia and is known for its tendency to cohabitate in artificial habitats. It is Commonly found in irrigated hay meadows, semipermanent marsh lands, rice paddy fields, and grasslands. Showing a preference for banks with comparatively lower levels of vegetation, they have a tendency for residing around trimmed grass and bodies of water as this is where they lay their eggs. Banded darters lay their eggs in stagnant or weakly flowing shallow water. Members of the Sympetrum family have the ability to detect horizontally polarized reflected light which allows them to find bodies of water and subsequently make their homes there.
Sympetrum pedemontanum displays fluctuating and cyclical... Wikipedia →