European regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU)
EU 27 regional assessment: Vulnerable (VU)

Cordulegaster insignis is confined to the western part of Türkiye and the eastern part of the Balkans. In Europe it has a very scattered distribution and, with the exception of Bulgaria and some Greek islands, is only known from very few localities in each country. Although the species has an extent of occurrence (EOO) (254,000 km²), due to its rather fragmented range and specialised biology and confinement to small stream headwaters, spring areas, and more rarely small rivers, the species has a very small area of occupancy (AOO) (360 km², based on data since 2000). The species has a rather discrete behaviour making it difficult to detect. It is not unlikely that more populations will be found in the rather less prospected southeastern part of Europe and that the AOO will exceed the threshold of 500 km². It is likely that it is declining in the Aegean islands due to continuous long periods of stream desiccation caused by increasing water abstraction for agricultural irrigation purposes in combination with rainfall deficit due to climate change (Boudot et al. 2015). As less than 100 populations are known in Europe, and all are rather small (Cordulegaster populations rarely each consist of 100 mature individuals), the total European population is definitely lower than 10,000 mature individuals and is declining. Therefore it qualifies as Vulnerable under criterion C for Europe and the EU27 Member States.

Cordulegaster insignis ranges from the southern Balkans to roughly the western part of Türkiye (Boudot et al. 2021, Schneider et al. 2021). The species has a small European distribution being found in Bulgaria, the most southern parts of Romania, Serbia, North Macedonia, Greece, the European part of Türkiye and some northern and eastern Aegean islands (Thasos, Samothraki, Göckçeada, Lesbos, Hios, Samos, Ikaria) (Boudot et al. 2015).

This Cordulegaster species is uncommon in its small European range. No information is available on population size and trends, but populations size seems to be rather small and declining as some have populations have been lost.

This species is found in small shaded streams and trickles with rocky pools and sandy beds, ditches along roads, spring areas and seepage waters (Boudot et al. 2015). As in several Cordulegaster species, the larvae seem to be able to resist short drought periods by burying themselves in moist sediment. The larvae are not able to cope with strong currents and consequently are not found in the lower courses of rivers (Leipelt 2005).

Habitat destruction (forest fires, water extraction, etc.) is the main threat to the species. Drought as a result of climate change has already led to local extinctions.

The species is not utilised.

River basin management plans should be worked on whereby special attention should be paid to ecological flows conform to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD CIS, 2015). This should mitigate or even impede water abstraction for agricultural or domestic use from streams and rivers. Further necessary conservation measures should include the control of water pollution, prevention of influx of nutrients and soils from adjacent farmlands and forests, and the prevention of forest logging along watercourses. No current conservation actions are in place. This species might benefit from being protected with national and international legislation. The addition of this species to the Annex II and IV of the European Habitats Directive seems appropriate as legal protection for this species and its threatened habitat.