The Living Forest (88) : mating Ruddy Darters

After the uploads (see below) of a single male and single female Ruddy Darter, you can see them here both in one shot while mating.

This is the so-called ‘mating wheel position’. The male clasps the female on her head with the extremity of his abdomen. The female then loops her abdomen forward and picks up the sperm from the male.

Dutch name : Bloedrode heidelibel
German name : Blutrote Heidelibelle
Latin name : Sympetrum sanguineum

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