Western Spectre
(Boyeria irene)

The Western Spectre is a remarkably unremarkable, dull-coloured dragonfly. It's a southern European species which occurs only in Iberia, Southern France and Italy where its preferred habitat consists of slow-flowing rivers and streams with trees growing right on the water's edge. Boyeria irene is most easily recognised by its low, slow, zigzagging, inquisitive flight; the male will closely search the river bank where ovipositing females may be laying their eggs in tree roots. Besides this behaviour, the species' only physical distinguishing feature is its highly effective camouflage colours of green and brown.

For an overview of the Western Spectre's distribution in Europe, hover your mouse pointer over the map symbol .
With the authors' permission we have based this map on data published in Kalkman et al. (2010).
Legend: Red = Occurs, White = Doesn't occur; Purple = Extinct; Yellow = Vagrant.

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