There is genetic and behavioural evidence that S. fonscolombii is not closely related to the other members of the genus Sympetrum and it will at some time in the future be removed from this genus.[citation needed]
Etymology
Sympetrum fonscolombii was named under the protonym Libellula fonscolombii by the Belgian entomologist Edmond de Sélys Longchamps, in 1840, in honor of the French entomologist Étienne of Fonscolombe (hence the species name).[4] Its name is sometimes spelt fonscolombei instead of fonscolombii but Askew (2004) gives the latter as the correct spelling.
It breeds in a wide range of habitats including marshes, lakes, ponds, permanent and seasonal rivers.[6][7] It is able to recolonize dry areas after a rainfall.[1]
Identification
Sympetrum fonscolombii can reach a body length of 38–40 millimetres (1.5–1.6 in).[8] This species is similar to other Sympetrum species but a good view with binoculars should give a positive identification, especially with a male.
Males have a red abdomen,[8] redder than many other Sympetrum species. The frons and the thorax are red-brown. The eyes are brown above and blue/grey below.[8] The wings have red veins and the wing bases of the hind-wings are yellow.[8] The pterostigma is pale yellow with a border of black veins.[8][6]
Female are similar but the abdomen is ochre yellow,[8] not red, with two black lines along each side.[8] The wings have yellow veins at the costa, leading edge and base, not red veins as found in the males.[8] The legs of both sexes are mostly black with some yellow.[6]
Immature males are like females but often with more red and a single line along each side of the abdomen.
Male S. fonscolombii can be mistaken for Crocothemis erythraea as both are very red dragonflies with yellow bases to the wings, red veins and pale pterostigma. However C. erythraea has no black on the legs, a broader body and no black on the head. Also C. erythraea females do not oviposit in tandem. The gestalt image of these two species is different and with some experience are easy to tell apart.
Head of female showing blue/grey underside of eyes and black and yellow legs
Pale pterostigma with border of black veins
Immature male
Male showing some red on abdomen
Mature male
Biology and behaviour
Sympetrum fonscolombii can be seen on the wing throughout the year around the Mediterranean and in the south of its range, however, its main flight period is May to October[8] and it is scarce during the winter months. It is a territorial species with the males often sitting on an exposed perch.
After copulation the pair stay in tandem for egg laying and pairs can be seen over open water with the female dipping her abdomen into the water depositing eggs. Pairs are known to fly over the sea in tandem dipping into the salt water where the eggs soon perish. The eggs and larvae develop within a few months and S. fonscolombii unlike most other European dragonflies has more than one generation a year. Some larvae overwinter.
^Sélys-Longchamps, de, E. 1840. Monographie des libellulidées d'Europe. Libellula fonscolombii p. 39, Librairie Roret, 220 pages, Paris
^K.A., Subramanian; K.G., Emiliyamma; R., Babu; C., Radhakrishnan; S.S., Talmale (2018). Atlas of Odonata (Insecta) of the Western Ghats, India. Zoological Survey of India. pp. 376–377. ISBN9788181714954.
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