Wildlife guide · Romania

Dragonflies of Romania –
Interactive Checklist

Romania hosts a remarkably diverse dragonfly fauna thanks to its wide range of freshwater habitats. From alpine bogs in the Carpathian Mountains to coastal lagoons in Dobrogea and the vast wetlands of the Danube Delta, each region supports distinct Odonata communities.

The interactive checklist below presents species confirmed in Romania based on modern ecological research and faunistic studies. Filters allow users to explore dragonflies by habitat, region and flight season, offering a clear overview of the country’s dragonfly diversity.

64Species confirmed

10Families

May–SepPrime season

Habitats and regional diversity

Most species are associated with standing waters such as lakes, ponds and marshes, where aquatic vegetation provides breeding areas. Others depend on fast-flowing mountain streams, while several rare species are restricted to alpine peat bogs or coastal saline habitats.

Representative species

Lestes macrostigma

Dark Spreadwing

A specialist of brackish and coastal lagoons, this striking damselfly is one of Dobrogea's most characteristic Odonata. Found near saline and temporary wetlands along the Black Sea coast, it is considered rare across much of its European range.

Lestidae Coastal lagoons Dobrogea · Danube Delta

Commonly observed dragonflies in Romania include:

Calopteryx splendens

Banded Demoiselle

One of the most recognisable damselflies in Romania, the male displays striking metallic blue wing patches during courtship flight over clean rivers and streams. The Balkan subspecies (C. s. balcanica) is found throughout the country’s lowland and foothill waterways.

Calopterygidae Rivers & streams Widespread

Lestes barbarus

Migrant Spreadwing

A slender, pale damselfly of temporary and seasonal wetlands. Unlike most Odonata, this species lays its eggs in plant stems above the waterline, allowing them to survive dry periods. Common in lowland Romania from May through September.

Lestidae Seasonal wetlands Lowland Romania

Cordulegaster bidentata

Sombre Goldenring

A large and powerful dragonfly of shaded forest streams in the Carpathians and hill regions. The female oviposits by plunging her abdomen vertically into sandy or gravelly stream beds. A strong indicator of unpolluted, well-oxygenated running water.

Cordulegastridae Mountain streams Carpathians

Orthetrum brunneum

Southern Skimmer

A medium-sized dragonfly with a characteristic powder-blue pruinose abdomen in mature males. Prefers warm, shallow waters with sparse vegetation — seeps, spring-fed pools and slow streams. Common in southern and eastern Romania, particularly in Dobrogea.

Libellulidae Warm shallow waters Southern & eastern Romania

Distribution Code Legend

ALL All of Romania

W Western Romania

C Centre (Transylvania)

E Eastern Romania

S Southern Romania

SCrp Southern Carpathians

ECrp Eastern Carpathians

Do Dobrogea

DD Danube Delta

★ = Rare species · ◇ = Historically confirmed (older records)

How to use the interactive checklist

The checklist allows filtering by habitat type (lakes, rivers, alpine bogs, coastal wetlands), geographic region and conservation or rarity status. This structure helps wildlife enthusiasts and photographers quickly identify species likely to be encountered in different parts of Romania.

Interactive Dragonfly Checklist of Romania

Complete checklist of 64 species (Odonata) confirmed in Romania — filter by family, habitat, region or rarity status.

Rare only ★

Showing 64 of 64 species

#	Scientific Name	English Name	Family	Habitat	Distribution
1	Calopteryx splendens	Banded Demoiselle	Calopterygidae	Rivers & streams	ALL
2	Calopteryx virgo	Beautiful Demoiselle	Calopterygidae	Rivers & streams	WCSCrpECrp
3	Epallage fatime	Eastern Demoiselle	Euphaeidae	Coastal / saline	DoDD
4	Lestes barbarus	Southern Emerald Damselfly	Lestidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
5	Lestes dryas	Scarce Emerald Damselfly	Lestidae	Lakes & ponds	CECrp
6	Lestes macrostigma	Dark Spreadwing	Lestidae	Coastal / saline	DoDD
7	Lestes sponsa	Emerald Damselfly	Lestidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
8	Lestes virens	Small Spreadwing	Lestidae	Lakes & ponds	SEDo
9	Lestes viridis	Willow Emerald Damselfly	Lestidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
10	Sympecma fusca	Winter Damselfly	Lestidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
11	Coenagrion puella	Azure Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
12	Coenagrion pulchellum	Variable Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	WC
13	Coenagrion scitulum	Dainty Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	DoDD
14	Enallagma cyathigerum	Common Blue Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
15	Erythromma najas	Red-eyed Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
16	Erythromma viridulum	Small Red-eyed Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	DoDD
17	Ischnura elegans	Blue-tailed Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
18	Ischnura pumilio	Scarce Blue-tailed Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Lakes & ponds	SEDo
19	Nehalennia speciosa ★	Pigmy Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Alpine bogs	CECrp
20	Pyrrhosoma nymphula	Large Red Damselfly	Coenagrionidae	Rivers & streams	WCSCrp
21	Platycnemis pennipes	White-legged Damselfly	Platycnemididae	Rivers & streams	ALL
22	Aeshna affinis	Southern Migrant Hawker	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	SEDo
23	Aeshna cyanea	Southern Hawker	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
24	Aeshna grandis	Brown Hawker	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
25	Aeshna isoceles	Green-eyed Hawker	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
26	Aeshna juncea	Common Hawker	Aeshnidae	Alpine bogs	SCrpECrp
27	Aeshna mixta	Migrant Hawker	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
28	Aeshna subarctica ★	Bog Hawker	Aeshnidae	Alpine bogs	SCrpECrp
29	Anax imperator	Emperor Dragonfly	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
30	Anax parthenope	Lesser Emperor	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	SEDo
31	Brachytron pratense	Hairy Dragonfly	Aeshnidae	Lakes & ponds	WC
32	Gomphus flavipes	Yellow-legged Clubtail	Gomphidae	Rivers & streams	DDE
33	Gomphus vulgatissimus	Common Clubtail	Gomphidae	Rivers & streams	WC
34	Onychogomphus forcipatus	Small Pincertail	Gomphidae	Rivers & streams	WCS
35	Ophiogomphus cecilia	Green Snaketail	Gomphidae	Rivers & streams	WC
36	Cordulegaster bidentata	Sombre Goldenring	Cordulegastridae	Rivers & streams	SCrpECrp
37	Cordulegaster heros	Balkan Goldenring	Cordulegastridae	Rivers & streams	SCrpECrp
38	Cordulegaster insignis	Caucasian Goldenring	Cordulegastridae	Rivers & streams	SCrp
39	Cordulia aenea	Downy Emerald	Corduliidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
40	Epitheca bimaculata	Balkan Emerald	Corduliidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
41	Somatochlora alpestris ★	Alpine Emerald	Corduliidae	Alpine bogs	SCrpECrp
42	Somatochlora arctica ★	Northern Emerald	Corduliidae	Alpine bogs	SCrpECrp
43	Somatochlora flavomaculata	Yellow-spotted Emerald	Corduliidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
44	Somatochlora meridionalis	Balkan Emerald	Corduliidae	Lakes & ponds	CECrp
45	Somatochlora metallica	Brilliant Emerald	Corduliidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
46	Crocothemis erythraea	Scarlet Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	SDoDD
47	Leucorrhinia dubia	Small Whiteface	Libellulidae	Alpine bogs	SCrpECrp
48	Leucorrhinia pectoralis ◇	Large White-faced Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	WC
49	Libellula depressa	Broad-bodied Chaser	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
50	Libellula fulva	Scarce Chaser	Libellulidae	Rivers & streams	WC
51	Libellula quadrimaculata	Four-spotted Chaser	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
52	Orthetrum albistylum	Eastern Skimmer	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ESDo
53	Orthetrum brunneum	Southern Skimmer	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	SDo
54	Orthetrum cancellatum	Black-tailed Skimmer	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
55	Orthetrum coerulescens	Keeled Skimmer	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
56	Sympetrum danae	Black Darter	Libellulidae	Alpine bogs	SCrpECrp
57	Sympetrum depressiusculum	Spotted Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	DD
58	Sympetrum flaveolum	Yellow-winged Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
59	Sympetrum fonscolombii	Red-veined Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	SDo
60	Sympetrum meridionale	Southern Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	SDo
61	Sympetrum pedemontanum	Banded Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
62	Sympetrum sanguineum	Ruddy Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
63	Sympetrum striolatum	Common Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL
64	Sympetrum vulgatum	Vagrant Darter	Libellulidae	Lakes & ponds	ALL

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Alpine habitat · Romania

Alpine dragonflies of the Romanian Carpathians

The Carpathians are a key refuge for cold-adapted dragonfly species associated with alpine peat bogs and mountain streams. These habitats host some of Romania’s rarest Odonata:

Cordulegaster bidentata

Sombre Goldenring

Shaded mountain streams

Lestes dryas

Scarce Spreadwing

Alpine bogs & temporary pools

Somatochlora alpestrisAlpine Emerald ★
Somatochlora arcticaNorthern Emerald ★
Aeshna junceaCommon Hawker
Aeshna subarcticaBog Hawker ★
Nehalennia speciosaPigmy Damselfly ★
Leucorrhinia dubiaSmall Whiteface

These dragonflies often indicate healthy alpine ecosystems and are sensitive to climate change.

Peak season: June – August in alpine bogs above 1,200 m

Coastal habitat · southeastern Romania

Dobrogea – coastal lagoons and saline dragonflies

Dobrogea’s coastal lagoons and saline lakes host specialised dragonfly species that are rarely found elsewhere in Romania. The region’s unique microclimate supports several thermophilous species:

Crocothemis erythraea

Scarlet Darter

Thermophilous — warm lagoons

Lestes barbarus

Migrant Spreadwing

Temporary coastal pools

Lestes macrostigmaDark Spreadwing
Epallage fatimeEastern Demoiselle
Coenagrion scitulumDainty Damselfly

Peak season: May – July on coastal lagoons and saline lakes

Wetland habitat · Danube Delta

Danube Delta – wetland dragonfly diversity

The Danube Delta’s extensive network of lakes, channels and marshes supports the highest dragonfly diversity in Romania. The lentic ecosystems are particularly rich:

Erythromma viridulum

Small Red-eyed Damselfly

Floating vegetation — lakes & channels

Ischnura elegans

Blue-tailed Damselfly

Ubiquitous — all wetland types

Anax imperatorEmperor Dragonfly
Libellula depressaBroad-bodied Chaser
Orthetrum cancellatumBlack-tailed Skimmer
Sympetrum depressiusculumSpotted Darter
Gomphus flavipesYellow-legged Clubtail

The Delta’s dragonfly communities are important indicators of wetland ecosystem health and water quality.

Peak season: June – August across delta lakes and channels

Conservation · Romania

Dragonflies as ecological indicators

Dragonflies are widely regarded as sensitive indicators of freshwater ecosystem health. Alpine and bog-associated species often signal well-preserved habitats, while changes in climate and land use may alter their distribution. Monitoring dragonflies therefore contributes to understanding broader biodiversity trends across Romania.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many dragonfly species are found in Romania?

Romania hosts at least 64 confirmed species of dragonflies and damselflies (order Odonata), spanning 10 families. The actual number may be higher as new records continue to be added from under-surveyed areas like the Eastern Carpathians and the Danube Delta.

Where is the best place to see dragonflies in Romania?

The Danube Delta is the richest area for dragonfly diversity in Romania, supporting numerous lentic species in its lakes, channels and marshes. The Carpathian alpine bogs host rare species like Somatochlora alpestris and Aeshna subarctica. Dobrogea’s coastal lagoons are home to specialised species such as Lestes macrostigma.

When is the best time to observe dragonflies in Romania?

The main dragonfly flight season in Romania runs from May to September. Peak diversity occurs in June and July when most species are on the wing. Alpine species in the Carpathians fly mainly in July and August, while early species like Sympecma fusca can be seen from March onward.

Is Romania a good destination for dragonfly watching?

Yes. Romania supports one of the most diverse dragonfly faunas in Central and Eastern Europe, thanks to its wide range of freshwater habitats — from alpine peat bogs in the Carpathians to coastal lagoons in Dobrogea and the vast wetlands of the Danube Delta. Each region supports distinct Odonata communities including several rare and declining species.

Dragonflies of Romania –Interactive Checklist