Course: Dragonflies of the UK Part 3: Whiteface and Darters

The UK is home to around 30 species of Dragonfly (Anisoptera) that breed in the UK. Alongside Damselflies, the Dragonflies make up the order Odonata. These predatory insects are known for their fascinating life cycles, dazzling colours and impressive flight abilities.

This presentation explores the whiteface and darter species, as well as covering some vagrants.. We’ll discuss how these 10 species can be distinguished from one another and delve into interesting aspects of their ecology and behaviour. We’ll look at their geographic distributions and consider their rarity and conservation status.

At the end of the session, learners should feel more comfortable submitting records of the following species to iRecord:

• White-faced Darter (Leucorrhinia dubia)
• Black Darter (Sympetrum danae)
• Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum)
• Ruddy Darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)
• Red-veined Darter (Sympetrum fonscolombii)
• Yellow-winged Darter (Sympetrum flaveolum)
• Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea)
• Vagrant Darter (Sympetrum vulgatum)
• Banded Darter (Sympretrum pedemontanum)
• Wandering Glider (Pantala flavescens)

The 90-minute event will consist of a 1-hour presentation followed by a Q&A with the tutor using questions provided by the live audience. The presentation will be recorded and made available following the event to those booked alongside a transcript of the Q&A and useful links.