Aeshna affinis Vander Linden, 1820

Wingspan 80-85 mm, body lenght 60-65 mm. It is one of the smallest Aeshnidae. Males may be confused with some congeners (mainly A. mixta), but their “mask-shaped” marking on the 2nd abdominal segment make them easily recognizable. The thorax is greenish with thin black lines along the sutures. The antehumeral stripes are very short. Females usually alternate light brown and yellow spots, but some of them feature blue spots just as males (androchromy).

In flight mainly in July and August.

It can be found in ponds with still water, chiefly with rushes and reeds.

This is a typical Mediterranean species, even though recently it began to spread its range northwards (it reaches northern Germany), wandering in years with high temperatures. In the Cuneo region it is rather rare and localized along the lower portion of the Tanaro river and in the Roeri hills.