Sympetrum - Darters - Heidelibellen

Sympetrum is a genus of small to medium sized skimmer dragonflies, known as darters in the UK and as meadowhawks in the North America. There are more than 50 species, predominantly living in the temperate zone of the Northern Hemisphere; no Sympetrum are native to Australia.

Most North American darters fly in late summer and autumn, breeding in ponds and foraging over meadows. Commonly, they are yellow-gold as juveniles, with mature males and some females becoming bright red on part or all of their bodies. An exception to this color scheme is the Black Darter, Sympetrum danae.

The genus includes the following species: