Not red…
This dragonfly is not red, but it is still a scarlet dragonfly (Crocothemis erythraea). It’s the female. All males turn so beautifully scarlet red, up to and including the eyes, for which the scarlet dragonfly is known. Females are often yellowish, although red specimens also seem to occur, less red than the males, though. They are less red then the males, though.The underside of the eyes is blue. Both the male and the female have yellow legs (which is also one of the characteristics that distinguishes it from the Ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum)).
Mating takes place flying. The females lay the eggs by dipping their abdomen in the water. After a year, the larvae emerge from the water at the end of May to fly out. You can see them from early June to late August.
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