Dragonflies of Andalusia

Southern species exclusive within Europe – an invitation to complete your field guide.

22 damselflies

40 dragonflies

SW Paleartic endemics in running waters

Generalist ‘African’ species in stil waters

Numerous ‘specialties’

Diversity of behaviours

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

Andalusia has 62 species of odonates, being the Iberian bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), an Iberian endemism that extends slightly in France, the most common species in the entire peninsula.

Andalusia is also 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.

Colonization start	*African (or Asiatic) 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 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, wide distribution in Europe	Anax imperator
	Anax ephippiger
	Crocothemis erythraea
	Sympetrum fonscolombii

Dragonflies of Andalusia: Epaulet skimmer

Dragonflies of Andalusia: pair of Epaulet skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), a very common species at South Iberian streams.

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

Andalusia is one of the most popular European destinations to observe odonata.

A large pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) that has just emerged on an Andalusian river.

Western spectre (Boyeria irene) exuvia, easy to find and to identify in the field, especially at well preserved low-mountain streams.

In the European context, the Iberian Peninsula, and in particular Andalusia, is home to large populations of odonates of ordinary continual waters, the most sensitive to pollution. Also keep in mind that the Genal and Hozgarganta rivers are reputed to be the last wild rivers of Andalusia and the streams of the Costa del Sol that house an exceptional aquatic biodiversity.

The area is home to streams characterized by their low flow and very mild water temperatures, very favorable conditions for species specialized in lotic ecosystems: copper demoiselle (Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis), orange Featherleg (Platycnemis acutipennis), western spectre (Boyeria irene), three species of Gomphus and three species of Onychogomphus. More rare and endangered: the orange-spotted emerald (Oxygastra curtisii) and the splendid cruiser (Macromia splendens), the latter being difficult to observe due to its behavior. Add ponds and lagoons that offer a habitat and a variety of different species.

Other species, present in the sector and whose distribution is limited in Europe (and even within Spain) are: ringed cascader (Zygonyx torridus), black percher (Diplacodes lefebvrii), faded pincertail (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). These species are often restricted to specific localities and habitats, which can hinder their sightings.

Running waters

Habitat of “lotic” species (e.g. gomphids, demoiselles) typical of streams and rivers with fast flowing waters (cold temperatures, high oxygen) and which larvae hidde within gravels substrate or under stones and often developpe over various years.

Slow flowing waters

Habitat of dragonflies more typical of shallow running waters (skimmers, coenagrionids damselflies), which larvae are less adapted to resist fast currents. Biotopes often with presence of aquatic vegetation, high oxygen and cool temperatures. Special cases: Splendid cruiser (Macromia splendens) found shelter at large permanent pools within mediterranean rivers ; Faded pincertail (Onychogomphus costae) lives in the largest Andalusian rivers.

Still waters

Species (darters, hawkers) inhabiting basins without water flow (ponds, lagoons), with preferences either for permanent, semi-permanent or temporary waters, depending on larval growth and colonisation.

Opportunistic species

Dragonflies prefering still waters (libellulids), although their very strong colonization potential and short larval development allow them to occupy a broad range of habitats, for example slow flowing section of streams.

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

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

Andalusia has 62 species of odonates, being the Iberian bluetail (Ischnura graellsii), an Iberian endemism that extends slightly in France, the most common species in the entire peninsula.

Dragonflies of Andalusia: pair of Epaulet skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), a very common species at South Iberian streams.

Colonization start	*African (or Asiatic) 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 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, wide distribution in Europe	Anax imperator
	Anax ephippiger
	Crocothemis erythraea
	Sympetrum fonscolombii

Andalusia is one of the most popular European destinations to observe odonata.

A large pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) that has just emerged on an Andalusian river.

Western spectre (Boyeria irene) exuvia, easy to find and to identify in the field, especially at well preserved low-mountain streams.

Running waters

Slow flowing waters

Still waters

Opportunistic species

Dragonflies:list of species present in Andalusia

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

Notes

IUCN: Extinction risk. LR: Lower Risk. NT: Near Threathened. VU: Vulnerable. EN: Endangered. EX: Extinct.

Dragonflies of Andalusia

Southern species exclusive within Europe – an invitation to complete your field guide.

22 damselflies

40 dragonflies

SW Paleartic endemics in running waters

Generalist ‘African’ species in stil waters

Numerous ‘specialties’

Diversity of behaviours

Colonization start

**African (or Asiatic*) species**

Dragonflies of Andalusia: pair of Epaulet skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), a very common species at South Iberian streams.

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

A large pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) that has just emerged on an Andalusian river.

Western spectre (Boyeria irene) exuvia, easy to find and to identify in the field, especially at well preserved low-mountain streams.

Running waters

Slow flowing waters

Still waters

Opportunistic species

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

Dragonflies of Andalusia: pair of Epaulet skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma), a very common species at South Iberian streams.

Colonization start

**African (or Asiatic*) species**

A large pincertail (Onychogomphus uncatus) that has just emerged on an Andalusian river.

Western spectre (Boyeria irene) exuvia, easy to find and to identify in the field, especially at well preserved low-mountain streams.

Running waters

Slow flowing waters

Still waters

Opportunistic species

Dragonflies:list of species present in Andalusia

#

Group

Family

Species

Common name

Identification (adult male)

Main distribution

Prefered habitat

IUCN Andalucia (2008)

Notes

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