Ruddy Darter Sympetrum sanguineum

The name tells the story. 'Ruddy' refers to the reddish coloration that makes this dragonfly stand out in the field. This belongs to the Libellulidae family, one of the largest dragonfly families with over 1,000 species worldwide. Found on nearly every continent except Antarctica, these agile fliers are part of an ancient lineage—dragonflies have been around for over 300 million years. Despite their small size, these aerial hunters are incredibly skilled predators, darting through the air to catch mosquitoes and other small insects.