About Orthetrum brunneum (Fonscolombe, 1837)
Adult Orthetrum brunneum grow to 40–45 millimetres (1.6–1.8 inches) in length, and are on average larger than Orthetrum coerulescens. Males have pale blue thoraxes and abdomens, while females have yellowish-brown or greyish-brown thoraxes and abdomens. Young males are brownish. The abdomen is relatively flattened, with a thin middorsal black line and distinct points on each segment. The wings are hyaline, with yellow or pale brown pterostigma. The wingspan of Orthetrum brunneum reaches 66–70 millimetres (2.6–2.8 in). This skimmer dragonfly is present across most of Europe, and its range extends into Mongolia and North Africa. It has been recorded in Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Republic of Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine. This species primarily inhabits small streams, canals, and ditches with shallow water that warms quickly.
