Description

Length: From 26 to 48 mm.
Hindwing spam: From 13 to 19 mm.
Male: 1. The upper part of the eyes is black and the lower blue. 2. Thorax is blue with blue stretches on the back and on the sides. 3. The upper part of the abdomen is black and the lower yellowish and orangey. 4. S8 and the lower parts of S7, S9 and S10 are blue. 5. Pterostigma is two-coloured.
Female: Females can be similar to males or andromorphic or be differently coloured. The difference between them and males is the egg-laying organ.

Habitat

This species can live in all types of water bodies that are slow or stagnant, in shiny with small herbaceous plants on the shore, especially paspalum (Paspalum spp.).
It does not need some special water conditions so it can be found in salty bodies of water, as well as in those which are moderately polluted.
Lower and middle courses of rivers and streams, lakes and lagoons or small lakes, reservoir shores, artificial ponds, canals, irrigation channels, reservoirs for livestock-farming and agriculture, or for watering golf courses.

Way of life

They fly low and slowly, above the shore and between rushes and other plants. They sometimes rest on plants, usually, close to water. It is easy to be spotted. Females lay eggs alone, on emergent or dead floating plants.

When to see this species

It flies from March to November in the Province of Málaga, but it is most common in June and September.

Where to see this species

It is rather common and widely scattered through the county. There are specific places along stages of the Great Málaga Path where it can be found: 2, 3, 4, 10, 12, 13, 16, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 27, 30 , 35, and maybe more.

Similar species

Above all Ischnura pumilio.

Conservation status

The species is not endangered nor protected by the current environmental law.