Arthropods Daily – Issue No. 597 – Issue No. 597
The ruddy darter is found in temperate regions of Europe, including Siberia and the northern Sahara. Its conservation status is secure and populations are increasing in some locations. It prefers quiet bodies of water with semiaquatic vegetation. The male has a vivid red head, thorax, and abdomen, while the female is slightly smaller and golden-yellow with black markings. Mating occurs in flight, and the female lays her eggs on the water surface. Larvae spend a year underwater before emerging as adults.