Jardim Gulbenkian

This dragonfly ranges from tropical Africa and Southwest Asia to Europe. In Portugal, it is found across the mainland and in the Madeira archipelago. In years of strong migratory waves, it can become very common. Due to their considerable capacity for dispersal, individuals can be seen flying around at any time of the year, even in winter, and can be spotted anywhere, sometimes very far from water. They reproduce in almost all bodies of freshwater but display a preference for temporary waters, as the nymphs can complete their life cycle in just three months. Several dispersing individuals have been observed in the Gulbenkian Garden. In 2021, a newly emerged immature male was photographed at the lake, indicating that the species has reproduced there.

Text: Eva Monteiro, Albano Soares, Renata Santos, Rui Félix, Cândida Ramos, Ricardo Ramirez and Patrícia Garcia-Pereira