Features and
Habits
 

In terms of size, it has a wingspan between 5 cm and 6 cm. Regarding its distinguishing characteristics, in terms of coloration, the male is red and the female is greenish-yellow. Something that distinguishes it from the common dragonfly is the fact that it has red wing veins and red and blue eyes, unlike brown and green eyes. The body is like other dragonflies. They hunt during flight, using their excellent vision and great agility.

It feeds on small insects, such as mosquitoes and flies, and is important in pest control. They reproduce during the warmer months, between May and September, when they are also most active. Females lay their eggs in still or slow-moving water with plenty of vegetation. The eggs hatch after a few weeks. The larvae complete their metamorphosis in the water after about 1 year.

Habitat and Distribution
 

  It is a common insect, generally sighted throughout the country, although somewhat less so in the northern interior. Its habitats are aquatic, such as the banks of lakes, rivers, and ponds with aquatic vegetation. Some locations in Portugal where it is more frequently observed, like the common dragonfly, are the Ria Formosa (Algarve) and the Tagus estuary; however, it is found much more frequently in these locations, while the former is more dispersed throughout the country. It is also frequently sighted in the Ria de Aveiro and in various marshes across the country.

Places where I have photographed this species so far.