Odonata

female - Highland, Scotland - July 2003

The taxonomy of Sympetrum nigrescens is uncertain and many texts question its validity as a full species, stating that it is probably just a melanic form of S. striolatum (Common Darter) since it has been observed that many insects become darker the further north they live to help them absorb heat more efficiently in colder climes.  However, DNA hybridisation and sequencing studies have shown that there is some evidence of isolation from S. striolatum.