Somatochlora alpestris (Selys, 1840)

Middle- to small-sized (45-50 mm), this species can be separated from congeners by a dark body coloration and a white ring between the 2nd and 3rd abdominal segment. Moreover, appendages are typically double-angled and their tips are converging.

In the Alps the flight period ranges from July to the first decade of September.

Typical alpine species, colonizing among the wooded zone only peatbogs, whereas above the tree limit it can be found in alpine lakes, cattle watering pools and in wet meadows, in addition to the typical high mountain peatbogs.

In Europe it can be found in mountain areas (Alps) or in the continent northern part (Norway, Sweden and Finland). In the Cuneo region it is found basically in high altitude peatbogs, then it is very rare and threatened by gradual degradation of these habitats.