Ischnura elegans (Vander Linden, 1820)

One of the most widespread damselflies in Italy and the biggest in its genus (30-34 mm). Males have a pale blue thorax with a black band and the abdomen is all black dorsally except the 8^th abdominal segment, being pale blue. Females can be observed in three chromatic types: one similar to the male (androchrome) and two (gynochrome) with pinkish thorax in tenerals, turning pale brown-gray with age, with (subspecies infuscans) or without (subspecies infuscans-obsoleta) a mesothoracic black line. A violet color can appear temporarily in some females.

The flight period lasts from April to October.

It can be found in almost every kind of water body, both with still and streaming waters, natural or artificial.

A palearctic species, widespread from western Europe to Japan. In Europe it can be observed almost everywhere, but it is absent in northern Scandinavia, most of the Iberian peninsula and the large Mediterranean islands. In the Cuneo region this is a widespread species, usually abundant in suitable habitats of the plain and hills. Some specimens, likely in dispersal, have been observed at high altitudes, more than 2000 meters above sea level.