Onychogomphus forcipatus unguiculatus (Linnaeus, 1758)

Very similar to O. uncatus for its big, downwards hooked male appendages, it differs from this species by the slightly smaller size (46-50 mm), the vertex not completely black (i.e. with a yellow line) and two black posterior bands on the thorax not linked each other (the anterior one is broken at the middle). Moreover, in dorsal view the male appendages are placed slightly one upon another at their tips.

It flies from mid-May to September.

From the plain to the hills, this is the typical dragonfly for riverbeds with stones, where males can perch. It can be observed often on the unpaved roads along the watercourses.

Widespread in Europe, Onychogomphus forcipatus is absent in the British Isles and Norway, and so in the extremity of southern Italy. The O. f. unguiculatus subspecies is typical of south-western Europe. This species is widespread in the Cuneo plain and in the valley bottoms of the main watercourses.