Sympetrum striolatum (Charpentier, 1840)

It can be identified by the thorax sutures with evident black lines enclosing, in males, two yellow-greenish or brownish bands, and by the lack of a black line between the frons and the eyes. The pterostigma is dark red or brownish. The legs, black, have a yellow streak. Females are gray-yellowish and feature much less evident side bands on the thorax.

Adults can be found usually from the end of April to October.

It occurs in many water bodies as lakes, ponds, peatbogs, especially the shallow and warm ones. Sometimes it can act as a pioneer species and breed in rice fields. It colonizes also slow flowing and brackish waters. It can be found from the plain until 1800 meters above sea level.

Widespread in most of Europe and Asia. Northwards it reaches southern Sweden and the Norwegian coasts. In the Cuneo region it is a widespread species in plain and low hill areas and can be easily observed mainly in late summer/autumn. It does not spread in the alpine valleys, but one stable breeding population occurs in the upper part of Tanaro valley at about 1000 meters above sea level.