Broad scarlet

Crocothemis erythraea

A medium-sized dragonfly with a body length of 37-45 mm and a hindwing length of 23-33 mm, distinguished by the large orange patches at the bases of the wings, and the broad, flattened abdomen which is a bright scarlet red in males and yellowish-brown in females. Also called the “scarlet darter” and “scarlet dragonfly,” the broad lives in stagnant or slow-flowing water such as ponds, lakes, and marshes. This species flies June through August, spending much of its time perched on the water’s edge.

Photographs

male