The ruddy darter is an impressive dragonfly known for its striking coloration and agile flight. Males are bright red; females are ochre yellow with black markings. The most important identifying feature of the ruddy darter is its completely black legs. Species with which it can be confused, such as the large or common darter, have black legs with yellow stripes.
The ruddy darter is quite undemanding and inhabits nearly every type of standing or slow-flowing body of water. It feeds on small insects such as flies, mosquitoes, hoverflies, and midges, which it catches in flight