To the east it occurs from Asia Minor to Siberia, to the south the range extends to Morocco, the Azores and Madeira.

The typical male has a black abdomen with a bright blue spot on tail (segments 8 and 9).

[1] It is very similar to the blue-tailed damselfly, Ischnura elegans but on that species the blue spot is mostly on segment 8.

[2] Females undergo a change of colour as they mature.

The immature female is bright orange, the aurantiaca phase, but matures to a greenish-brown.