The ruddy darter (Sympetrum sanguineum) is a small, vibrant dragonfly widespread across Europe. Active from June to November, it favors shallow, vegetated ponds. Mature males sport a striking blood-red, club-shaped abdomen that narrows before widening near the tip, while females and immature males display a warm golden-ochre hue. Unlike the similar common darter, its legs are entirely solid black without any yellow striping. Rather than patrolling continuously, these dragonflies prefer perching in sunny spots to ambush passing prey. They mate in flight, after which the pair executes a rhythmic dipping display over the water to deposit eggs—with the male hovering closely to guard his mate from rivals. Despite this vigilance, they are surprisingly tolerant of neighboring individuals compared to more aggressive dragonfly species. I encountered several of these stunning dragonflies repeatedly perching in a sunny meadow near a post-glacial lake in Järfälla, Sweden.