[1] Lestes barbarus is a European–central Asian species with isolated populations in North Africa and a range expanding northward.

[1] It is found across southern Europe in a band across Spain, France, Italy and Greece to India and Mongolia.

The male abdominal appendage and female ovipositor are also characteristic and unlike those of L. sponsa or L. dryas.

The flight period is from March to October in the south of its range but in north it flies mainly from June to August.

After mating the pair usually remain in tandem while the female lays eggs on waterside plants.