Description

Length: From 45 to 50 mm.
Hindwing spam: From 29 to 33 mm.
Male: 1. Separated turquoise eyes. 2. Yellow thorax with black stripes. Black stripes on the sides are narrow, and the yellow one in the middle is wider. Black stripes on the sides are wider in Gomphus graslinii, and the yellow stripe is narrower. 3. Short black interpleural suture goes over the black spot (metastigma). 4. Black back of the abdomen has yellow markings in the shape of a wedge. 5. S8 and S9 are wide (wider than in G. graslinii). 6. Shorter anal appendages. They are not forked.
Female: Females are similar to males in patterns, but there are more blue sections on their eyes. 7. Anal appendages are shorter and last segments thicker.

Habitat

They reproduce in the middle courses of rivers and perennial streams, in open areas with riverbank vegetation, such as willows and rushes. In general, the bottoms are rocky and sandy so their larvae can hide.

Way of life

They are rather cautious when it is about showing up and, because of this, difficult to be spotted. They rest on the ground, rocks and lower branches of trees and bushes. Their position is normally horizontal or slightly diagonal, and their wings completely open.

When to see this species

In Málaga, they can be seen from May to July. They are more common in June, though they have been spotted in March, April and October.

Where to see this species

This species can be only seen in the west of the Mediterranean: France, the Iberian Peninsula and Morocco. As for the Province of Málaga, it is rare and it only lives in rivers and streams in the Serranía de Ronda.
It has been spotted on stages 10, 12, 27 and 28 of the Great Málaga Path, although it is likely to be found on many of the routes, especially those that go along the rivers Guadiaro, Genal and Turón.

Similar species

Above all G. graslinii.

Conservation status

It is considered to be Vulnerable in the Atlas and Red List Status of Invertebrates in Spain (Atlas y Libro Rojo de las Invertebrados de España, 2011) and the Red List Status of Invertebrates in Andausia (Libro Rojo de los Invertebrados de Andalucía. 2008), but it is not specially protected by the current environmental law.