[1][2] Subspecies include:[3] This quite common and widespread dragonfly is present in most of Europe, in North Africa (Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia), and in West/Central Asia (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan).

[1][4] These dragonflies usually inhabit clean rivers with a little faster running water and gravel or sandy banks.

The two species can be distinguished on the basis of the shape and extension of the black markings, especially on the thorax and on the last abdominal segments.

Adults can be encountered close to running water and lakes from June through September.

In Cyprus, the flight season of the subspecies O. f. albotibialis is from late March to October.