Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis (Vander Linden, 1825)

Males (45-46 mm) cannot be confused with congeners thanks to the dark body color with green-bronze reflexes and the red coloration of the last abdominal segments ventral side. Wings are black from the tip almost to the base.

Females feature a coloration varying from metallic green to bronze and have attenuated brown wings with pterostigma. Their hindwings have a brown patch spreading on the distal fifth: this is an exclusive feature of this species.

In flight from May to September.

The larvae live only in streaming waters as creeks, brooks, canals and sometimes even in medium- and large-sized rivers. Often with other Calopterygidae.

Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis is a western Mediterranean species, found in northern Africa and south-western Europe. In our region it is very rare: it was recorded just two times. The first observation was in 2011 in Bagnasco municipality, the second in 2013 nearby Trinità.