Abstract
The author describes a reversible, temperature dependent colour change in males of Sympetrum sanguineum Muller, S. pedemontanum Allioni, S. vulgatum L. and S. striolatum Charp. The males of S. sanguineum and S. pedemontanum show the largest, S. striolatum the weakest amount of change. With decreasing temperatures the bright crimson red of the abdomen of S. sanguineum, S. pedemontanum and S. vulgatum changes to very dark red, the yellowish red abdomen of S. striolatum becomes brownish. Darkening process starts at temperatures less than 12 °C and is completed in about 10 hours (at 6°C), the reverse colour change needs about 30 to 60 minutes for completion (at 23°C). The possible ecological adaptive significance is discussed.
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