Dragonflies (Odonates) of Andalucía

Species unique to southern Europe: an invitation to complete your field guide.

Sympetrum nigrifemur — **Fast flowing waters**

22 damselflies (Zygoptera)
41 true dragonflies (Anisoptera)
Western Palearctic endemisms in flowing waters
Generalist/African species in stagnant waters
Diversity of behaviors to observe in the field

Dragonflies or odonates are insects with elongated and often brightly colored bodies, endowed with two pairs of large wings and bulky eyes, which patrol aquatic environments on hot days like no other arthropod … The larvae are aquatic and are provided with a prehensile “mask” to capture their prey.

Andalusia has 63 species of odonates, being the Iberian bluet (Ischnura graellsii), an Iberian-Maghrebi endemism that extends slightly in France, the most common species in the whole Iberian Peninsula. We have a population, located in the province of Malaga, of the recently described Iberian endemism, the Cazuma’s pincertail (Onychogomphus cazuma).

The Iberian bluet (Ischnura graellsii), one of the most frequent species in the Iberian Peninsula and almost endemic to this territory.

The dragonflies of Andalusia

Colonization of African species

Trithemis kirbyi, colonizing species since 2007.

Andalusia is the gateway to the African species that colonize Europe. We can mention the Violet dropwing (Trithemis annulata) and the Orange-winged dropwing (Trithemis kirbyi), two species with spectacular colors and easy to observe.

START DATE	SPECIES
2007	Trithemis kirbyi
1978	Trithemis annulata
1966	Orthetrum trinacria
1957, 1961	Brachythemis impartita
1904, 1935, 1942	Diplacodes lefebvrii
Presence detected in the 19th century, distribution practically restricted to the Iberian Peninsula in Europe.	Sympetrum sinaiticum
	Paragomphus genei
	Paragomphus genei
	Orthetrum chrysostigma
	Selysiothemis nigra*
	Zygonyx torridus
Presence detected in the 19th century, with a wide distribution in Europe.	Anax ephippiger
	Anax imperator
	Crocothemis erythraea
	Sympetrum fonscolombii

Table. Beginning of colonization in Spain by species of African or Asian origin*.

In the European context, the Iberian Peninsula, and in particular Andalusia, is home to large populations of odonates of running inland waters, the most sensitive to pollution. It should also be noted that the rivers Genal and Hozgarganta are reputed to be the last wild rivers of Andalusia and the streams of the Costa del Sol are home to an exceptional aquatic biodiversity.

Diversity of Mediterranean rivers

A Large pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) that has just emerged in an Andalusian river.

The area is home to streams characterized by their low flow and very mild water temperatures, very favorable conditions for the species of the lotic ecosystems:

Copper demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis)
Orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis)
Western Spectre (Boyeria irene)
Three species of Gomphus and four species of Onychogomphus.

Rarer and more endangered:

Orange-spotted emerald (Oxygastra curtisii)
Splendid cruiser (Macromia splendens), being difficult to observe.

Southern European Specialties

Pair of Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), a very common species in the streams of Andalusia.

Other odonates present in the sector have a limited distribution in Europe and even within Spain. Often these species are restricted to very specific habitats, which can make their sightings difficult.

Spotted Torrent (Zygonyx torridus)
Pygmy Galladere (Diplacodes lefebvrii)
Pale Candlestick (Onychogomphus costae)
Common Hooktail (Paragomphus genei)
Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma)
Yellow-Veined skimmer (Orthetrum nitidinerve)
Long Skimmer (Orthetrum trinacria)
Desert Darter (Sympetrum sinaiticum)
Northern banded Groundling (Brachythemys impartita)
Black Pennant (Selysiothemis nigra)

Dragonflies: list of species present in Andalusia

#	FAMILY	SPECIES	COMMON NAME	ID	DISTRIBUTION	HABITAT	IUCN 2008 Andalucia
	ZYGOPTERA
1	Calopterygidae	Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis	Copper demoiselle	Unmistakable	SW Palearctic	Running waters
2	–	Calopteryx virgo meridionalis	Beautiful demoiselle	Unmistakable	SW Palearctic	Running waters
3	–	Calopteryx xanthostoma	Western demoiselle	Unmistakable	Iberia, Francia	Running waters	VU
4	Coenagrionidae	Ceriagrion tenellum	Small red damsel	Easy	W Palearctic	Slow flowing waters
5	–	Coenagrion caerulescens	Mediterranean Bluet	Tricky	SW Palearctic	Slow flowing waters	VU
6	–	Coenagrion mercuriale	Mercury bluet	Tricky	SW Palearctic	Slow flowing waters	VU
7	–	Coenagrion puella	Azure bluet	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water	EXT
8	–	Coenagrion scitulum	Dainty bluet	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water	VU
9	–	Enallagma cyathigerum	Common bluet	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water
10	–	Erythromma lindenii	Blue-eye	Easy	W Palearctic	Slow flowing waters
11	–	Erythromma viridulum	Small Redeye	Easy	W Palearctic	Stagnant water
12	–	Ischnura graellsii	Iberian bluetail	Easy	Iberia, Maghreb	Opportunist
13	–	Ischnura pumilio	Small bluetail	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water
14	–	Pyrrhosoma nymphula	Large red damsel	Easy	W Palearctic	Slow flowing waters
15	Lestidae	Chalcolestes viridis	Willow spreadwing	Easy	W Palearctic	Opportunist
16	–	Lestes barbarus	Migrant spreadwing	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water
17	–	Lestes dryas	Robust spreadwing	Tricky	Palearctic, Nearctic	Stagnant water	VU
18	–	Lestes macrostigma	Dark spreadwing	Unmistakable	Palearctic	Stagnant water	VU
19	–	Lestes virens virens	Small spreadwing	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water
20	–	Sympecma fusca	Common winter damsel	Unmistakable	Palearctic	Opportunist
21	Platycnemididae	Platycnemis acutipennis	Orange featherleg	Unmistakable	Iberia, Francia	Slow flowing waters
22	–	Platycnemis latipes	White featherleg	Unmistakable	Iberia, Francia	Opportunist
	ANISOPTERA
23	Aeshnidae	Aeshna affinis	Blue-eyed hawker	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water	DD
24	–	Aeshna cyanea	Blue hawker	Easy	W Palearctic	Stagnant water
25	–	Aeshna isoceles	Green-eyed hawker	Unmistakable	W Palearctic	Stagnant water	EXT
26	–	Aeshna mixta	Migrant hawker	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water
27	–	Anax ephippiger	Vagrant Emperor	Easy	Africa	Stagnant water
28	–	Anax imperator	Blue Emperor	Easy	Africa, Palearctic	Opportunist
29	–	Anax parthenope	Lesser Emperor	Easy	Palearctic, Indomalaya	Opportunist
30	–	Boyeria irene	Western spectre	Unmistakable	SW Palearctic	Running waters
31	–	Brachytron pratense	Hairy dragonfly	Easy	W Palearctic	Stagnant water	EXT
32	Cordulegastridae	Cordulegaster boltonii	Common goldenring	Easy	W Palearctic	Running waters
33	Macromiidae	Macromia splendens	Splendid cruiser	Easy	Iberia, Francia	Slow flowing waters	CR
34	Corduliidae	Oxygastra curtisii	Orange-spotted emerald	Unmistakable	SW Palearctic	Slow flowing waters	EN
35	Gomphidae	Gomphus graslinii	Pronged clubtail	Tricky	Iberia, Francia	Running waters	EN
36	–	Gomphus pulchellus	Western clubtail	Tricky	SW Palearctic	Slow flowing waters
37	–	Gomphus simillimus	Yellow clubtail	Tricky	SW Palearctic	Running waters	VU
38	–	Onychogomphus cazuma	Cazuma pincertail	Tricky	Spain
39	–	Onychogomphus costae	Faded pincertail	Unmistakable	Iberia, Maghreb	Slow flowing waters
40	–	Onychogomphus forcipatus unguiculatus	Small pincertail	Tricky	W Palearctic	Running waters
41	–	Onychogomphus uncatus	Large pincertail	Tricky	SW Palearctic	Running waters	DD
42	–	Paragomphus genei	Green hooktail	Unmistakable	Africa	Slow flowing waters
43	Libellulidae	Brachythemis impartita	Northern banded groundling	Unmistakable	Africa	Stagnant water
44	–	Crocothemis erythraea	Broad scarlet	Easy	Africa, Palearctic, Indo-Malaysia	Opportunist
45	–	Diplacodes lefebvrii	Black percher	Tricky	Africa, Indomalaya	Stagnant water
46	–	Libellula depressa	Broad-bodied chaser	Unmistakable	Palearctic	Stagnant water
47	–	Libellula fulva	Blue-eyed chaser	Easy	Palearctic	Stagnant water	EXT
48	–	Libellula quadrimaculata	Four-spotted chaser	Unmistakable	Neartic, Palearctic	Stagnant water	DD
49	–	Orthetrum brunneum	Southern skimmer	Tricky	Palearctic	Slow flowing waters
50	–	Orthetrum cancellatum	Black-tailed skimmer	Unmistakable	Palearctic	Stagnant water
51	–	Orthetrum chrysostigma	Epaulet skimmer	Easy	Africa, Iberia, Turkey	Slow flowing waters
52	–	Orthetrum coerulescens	Keeled skimmer	Tricky	Palearctic	Slow flowing waters
53	–	Orthetrum nitidinerve	Yellow-veined skimmer	Easy	Iberia, Maghreb, Sicily, Sardinia	Slow flowing waters	VU
54	–	Orthetrum trinacria	Long skimmer	Easy	Africa, SW Asia	Stagnant water
55	–	Selysiothemis nigra	Black pennant	Tricky	Asia, Mediterranean	Stagnant water
56	Libellulidae	Sympetrum fonscolombii	Red-veined darter	Easy	Africa, Asia, Palearctic	Stagnant water
57	–	Sympetrum meridionale	Southern darter	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water
58	–	Sympetrum sanguineum	Ruddy darter	Tricky	Palearctic	Stagnant water
59	Libellulidae	Sympetrum sinaiticum	Desert darter	Tricky	Mediterranean	Slow flowing waters
60	–	Sympetrum striolatum	Common darter	Tricky	Palearctic	Opportunist
61	–	Trithemis annulata	Violet dropwing	Unmistakable	Africa	Opportunist
62	–	Trithemis kirbyi	Orange-winged dropwing	Unmistakable	Africa	Opportunist
63	–	Zygonyx torridus	Ringed cascader	Easy	Africa	Running waters	VU

Extinction risk in Andalusia. LR: Lower Risk. NT: Near Threatened. VU: Vulnerable. EN: Endangered. EX: Extinct.

Habitats of odonates

Fast flowing waters

Habitat of “lotic” species (gomphids, demoiselles) typical of fast-flowing streams and rivers (with low temperatures, high oxygenation) and whose larvae hide in the gravel substrate or under stones, and often develop for several years.

Slow flowing waters

Habitat of dragonflies more suited to shallow running water (Black-tailed skimmers), whose larvae are less adapted to withstand fast currents. Biotopes often with aquatic vegetation, high oxygen content and cool temperatures. The larvae of several species can withstand heavy flooding: the Splendid cruiser (Macromia splendens) finds refuge in large permanent pools of Mediterranean rivers; the Pale Candil(Onychogomphus costae) lives in the larger rivers of Andalusia.

Still and stagnant waters

Libellulids and nests colonize basins without water flow (ponds, lagoons), with a preference for permanent, semi-permanent or temporary water, depending on larval growth and colonization.

Opportunistic species

Dragonflies prefer still water (libellulids), although their high colonization potential and short larval development allow them to occupy a wide range of habitats, e.g., low-flowing stream sections.

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