English name: Scarlet Darter / Broad Scarlet

Like all members of the Libellulidae family, the male of the red darter also tends to remain for long hours in a conspicuous spot, usually at the same lookout point to which he will return even if disturbed. While standing like this, he waits for a female to pass through his territory.

Species of the genus Crocothemis often perch with the wings angled forward beyond the head and not to the sides like most dragonflies.  

Size: Medium (3-5 cm).
Habitat: Standing water, usually shallow. For example: small ponds, drainage channels, and so on.
                 Usually perched on plants, not on vertical surfaces.

Distribution: Across Africa, as well as in Asia from the Middle East to China, and in southern Europe. It is expanding its range northward.
Very common in Israel.
Season: End of March-beginning of October (according to data from Turkey).

Identification marks:
Like all species of the genus Crocothemis found in the country, the red darter also has no black color on the legs.
Also, both sexes are recognizable by the shape of the flattened abdomen, which widens in the middle and then becomes narrow.

Male- Its entire body is red. From the head to the tip of the abdomen. Sometimes there is a thin black stripe along the upper side of the abdomen.
The eye is red in its upper part and blue in its lower part.
The pterostigma is yellow, and a yellow-amber spot is present at the base of the hindwings.
Young males resemble the female.
Female – the body color is yellow-brown. 
White shoulder (antehumeral) stripes on the thorax, as well as a white stripe between the wings.
Like the male, the female also has a thin black stripe along the upper side of the abdomen, and a faint black stripe on the sides of the abdomen, mainly on the side closer to the thorax.
The pterostigma is yellow, and a yellow-amber spot is present at the base of the hindwings.
At the bottom of the abdomen, the triangular reproductive organ is visible (diagnostic feature)

Similar species:
Male - in the Libellulidae family there are many red species (members of the genera: Crocothemis, Trithemis and Orthetrum). It is especially worth paying attention tothe Asian darter andthe small red-skimmer which are most similar to the red darter, and distinguishing between them is difficult.
Female - almost all females of the Libellulidae family are very similar, and one must pay attention to details in order to distinguish between them.