RED VEINED DARTER DRAGONFLY [Male] (Sympetrum fonscolombii) Techniti Limni Agia, Agia Lake, Agia, Crete, Greece

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The Red Veined Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum fonscolombii) is a member of the family Libellulidae which is in the genus Sympetrum. It has a wide spread distribution and is commonly found in Africa, western, central and southern Asia as well as most of Europe. This species is nomadic by nature and since the 1990’s has greatly expanded its European range as far north as southern Scandinavia.  

Text © Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds.com

BANDED DEMOISELLE DAMSELFLY (Male) (Calopteryx splendens subspecies C. s. cretensis) Kaminia River, Nikiforos Fokas, Rethymno, Crete, Greece

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The Banded Demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens) is a large damselfly in the family Calopterygidae. The range of this Eurasia species extends in a wide band from the Atlantic coast of Ireland eastwards to north western China but is absent from the colder northern regions. In Europe, it doesn’t occur in Iceland, northern Scandinavia, northern Russia or the Iberian Peninsula. Like all species of damselflies and dragonflies the major part of its life cycle is spent as an aquatic nymph. From late April to October (May to August in northern areas) it is on the wing, frequenting streams and rivers edged with aquatic plants which are used for egg laying and roosting. It has a widespread distribution and a number of races are recognised including Calopteryx splendens cretensis which is endemic to the Greek island of Crete.
  

Reference: Patrick J. O'Keeffe / Raw Birds