Aeshna mixta Latreille, 1805

One of the smallest Aeshnidae, about 80 mm in wingspan and about 60 mm in body length. Its thorax is brown and features two very small and yellowish antehumeral stripes. The male's abdomen is black with couples of blue spots and at its base has a white-yellowish triangular mark (“T”). In females the abdomen features small yellow spots and bigger brown spots. Some females have a coloration similar to males (androchromy).

It is a late species and can be observed from August to October.

It prefers ponds with reeds and sedges, even if drying up. It can carry out even long displacements, so it can be found also in meadows nearby waterbodies.

Species widespread in southern and central Europe. Northwards it reaches southern Norway and eastwards its range reaches Japan. It is a species expanding northwards. In the Cuneo region it is relatively common even if localized in ponds with suitable ecological conditions.