Black-tailed Skimmer
Orthetrum cancellatum
This species occurs from Asia to Europe and is also found in North Africa. It is very common and well distributed throughout mainland Portugal. It is usually seen on open expanses of water with little or no vegetation on the banks (e.g. dams, large reservoirs and natural or artificial lakes). City lakes and ornamental ponds provide suitable habitats for this species, and the lake at the Gulbenkian Garden is no exception, where it can be spotted during the warmer months.
Text: Eva Monteiro, Albano Soares, Renata Santos, Rui Félix, Cândida Ramos, Ricardo Ramirez and Patrícia Garcia-Pereira