Sympetrum fonscolombii is a common, widespread species of dragonfly. A resident (and more common) in the Mediterranean regions of Europe. Can also be found in the more northern regions of Europe, as far north as Britain and Sweden and over towards Poland in the East. But in these countries here it becomes much scarcer and will be rarely seen. It is most common in North Africa, the Middle East, and into south-western Asia including the Indian Subcontinent.
Females have an ochre yellow abdomen. Immature males can be mistaken for females but often have more red and a single line on each side of the abdomen.
Males are notably territorial and will often be seen observing on a exposed perch.
After copulation a pair can often be seen flying in tandem, with the female dipping her abdomen into the water depositing her eggs. The eggs and larvae develop within a few months and S. fonscolombii unlike most other European dragonflies has more than one generation a year. Some larvae will overwinter.
