11. Anax imperator (Leach, 1815)

Conservation and breeding status: LC (EU), LC (IT), LC (MED), B

This large and powerful holomediterranean lentic dragonfly was recorded twice in EXP (3), where breeding was also confirmed.

A. imperator is mainly distributed in lowlands, plains and bottom valleys in Piedmont, Valle d’Aosta and Canton Tessin, though sporadic populations have been recorded at 1200 m in VCO (Boano et al. 2007; Bionda et al. 2013) and at 1425 m in Canton Tessin (Wildermuth et al. 2005). Thus, breeding inside VGNP cannot be excluded and further targeted surveys are needed.