[3] This species can be found in much of southern and central Europe stretching out to Asia where it is replaced by S. paedisca.

In winter adults are found away from water on dry plant stems usually in open areas such as grassland and heaths.

Males that have overwintered have dark brown pterostigma on both forewing and hindwing and many develop blue eyes.

Where both S. fusca and S. paedisca fly together careful examination of the adult, in the hand, preferably under magnification, is required to tell the two species apart.

It is one of only two species of European dragonflies that overwinter as adult insects, the other being the related Sympecma paedisca.