As for other insects, the Odonata body can be described as the total of three portions: head, thorax and abdomen. The head features two compound eyes, three ocelli, two short antennae and the mouthparts. The segment linking the head to the thorax is called the “pronotum” and, for species identification purposes, it can be useful focus on its shape and on that of the rear head.

The wings and the legs are connected to the thorax. Color and pattern of thorax upper part and sides are often an indispensable indication leading to determine the species. For other species it can be important to focus on the legs color, but sometimes it can be useful, the insect been caught, to observe the wing venation: cells and veins pattern can provide important details. A given cell is very interesting in a lot of species: the pterostigma. This is a (usually colored) wing cell, often wider than the nearby cells.

The abdomen is elongated and has ten segments. As for the thorax, color or given patterns on the segments can lead to species determination. The abdomen distal portion hosts genitalia and appendages (in males) and ovipositor (in females).