Banded Darter
The wing veins are colored red.
| Scientific name | Sympetrum pedemontanum elatum |
| English name | Banded Darter |
| Japanese name | 深山茜 |
| Class | Insecta |
| Order | Odonata |
| Family | Libellulidae |
| Genus | Sympetrum |
| Species | pedemontanum |
| Subspecies | elatum |
| Full length | 30-41mm |
| Distribution | Distributed throughout Japan. |
Banded Darter Characteristics and Morphology
A dragonfly characterized by the beautiful red color of the male.
The compound eyes are also red.
Has a brown band on its wings. The wing veins are colored red.
Male
Mature males are generally more reddish.
Even the pterostigma is red.
Female
Females are generally lighter in color compared to males.
The color of the abdomen is more yellowish than that of the male.
Banded Darter Ecology
Habitat
Found in low mountainous areas with streams and irrigation canals rather than deep in the mountains. They inhabit near gently flowing streams.
Food
They catch and eat insects in the air.
Life Cycle
Emerges from early July. They lay eggs in shallow waters in the fall, and the eggs hatch in the spring of the following year.
Banded Darter Photos
Banded Darter Photos are introduced.
Tap the photo to open the detail page.
Banded Darter Behavior
Flies around grasslands of pampas grass and reeds in the fall.
Banded Darter Information
Naming
Despite the name "Miyama Akane (深山茜)," which implies deep mountains, it is found in low mountainous areas with streams and irrigation canals. It is also called "Kazaguruma Tonbo." The specific epithet "pedemontanum" means "of the foot of the mountain" and is derived from Piedmont, Italy, where this species was described.
Banded Darter Found Locations
Katakurajoshi Park, Hachiōji
A bright red male was perched on a reed leaf in Katakurajoshi Park, Hachiōji. The wing veins were so red as if blood was flowing, and it was very beautiful. It had fine white hairs on its body. Although Sympetrum frequens is dominant in the park, other Sympetrum dragonflies can be found if you look carefully.
