Vagrant Darter

Shallow ponds and lakes with abundant marginal vegetation.

Rare migrant from Central Europe. About ten were recorded up to 1946, mostly in south-east England. An unprecedented influx in 1995 led to at least 15 records from Norfolk and others in Suffolk, Kent and London. Most recent records are from the Isle of Wight in 1996 and the west Midlands in 1997.

Can be confused with other Darter species, particularly Common Darter.

Vagrant Darter can be distinguished by its:

• Lack of markings on sides of thorax.
• Brown pterostigma (wing spots)
• Male: Black spots ringed with yellow on the abdomen.
• Female: distinctive, prominent vulvar scale.

• Length: 35-40mm
• Brown pterostigma (wing spots).
• Black moustache markings extend down the sides of the frons (face).
• Limited markings on the sides of the thorax.
• Male: red with the tiny black spots on the abdomen ringed with yellow.
• Female: yellow-orange body. Distinctive, prominent vulvar scale which sticks out at a right angle from under segment 9 near the end of the abdomen.