This species is known under different names, which were, until recently, frequently used. Jödicke (1997) showed that the name Sympecma paedisca has priority over the names annulata, braueri and striata. The latter three names are still sometimes used for subspecies occurring in the southeast of its range. These subspecies are largely based on the reduced dark pattern on the thorax. This character is however merely correlated with the hot climate of Central Asia where specimens become gradually paler over a large area. Due to this, it is not possible to distinguish clearly definable subspecies and the subspecies should be considered invalid.

European regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)
EU 27 regional assessment: Least Concern (LC)

Sympecma paedisca occurs widely and is common to abundant in a large part of North-Eastern Europe. The trend is mostly positive both there and lately also in Western Europe, which means that a previous decline has largely ceased. However, exceptions still exist, and these mainly apply to isolated occurrences in the Alps. There, the species is still in decline, and it is assumed to become increasingly dependent on habitats at higher altitudes. Conservation measures and continued population monitoring are needed there to prevent local extinction. However, this area constitutes only a very small part of the species' European range and as the trend is otherwise positive, the species is assessed as Least Concern in both Europe and the EU 27. S. paedisca is listed in the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV) and the Bern Convention (Annex II).

S. paedisca has a very large distribution extending from the Netherlands in the west to Japan in the east. Most of its range is in the temperate zone and the species is largely absent from the boreal region as well as in large arid areas.

In Europe, the species has a patchy presence with the strongest populations in the northeast, mainly in Belarus, southern Finland, Poland, the Baltic states, Ukraine, and probably the European part of Russia. In the rest of Europe, it has a more restricted distribution with a more or less strong presence in a rather narrow strip from the Netherlands across northern Germany, and with a relic distribution in the Alps (Kalkman 2010, Kalkman and Mauersberger 2015). Its presence is uncertain in Sweden and it may have gone extinct in France (unmapped).

Sympecma paedisca can be overlooked, and it is difficult to distinguish it from its close and usually much more common relative S. fusca. However, S. paedisca is widespread and often very common in parts of mainly north-eastern Europe. In the western and south-western part of its range, it occurs more fragmented, and populations can be few and isolated. Nevertheless, the western populations usually consist of relatively large populations and not infrequently the species is found in large numbers (Kalkman 2010). S. paedisca previously went through a severe decline in both western Europe and the Alps. It was Regionally Extinct in France and assessed as threatened in Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Slovakia, and Switzerland. This decline may explain why it never gained a foothold in Sweden (only seen temporarily in 2000 and 2003) or has never been found in Denmark. In some areas, such as Sweden, there is also competition from S. fusca, something it does not suffer from in Finland, which S. paedisca colonised during the 2000s’ (Billqvist et al. 2019).

More recently, the species' trend has been largely reversed with expansion at least in Finland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, and it has once again been found in France. We have less knowledge of what the situation looks like in European Russia and Ukraine, but it is increasing in Belarus (Kitel 2022). It has declined locally in north-eastern Germany and the isolated outposts in the Alps might still be threatened. Climate change is thought to be the main drive behind the expansion as well as its local decline (Kalkman and Mauersberger 2015). It is highly likely that in the fairly near future the southernmost populations will become increasingly restricted to ever higher altitudes.

S. paedisca occurs in a variety of well-vegetated, mesotrophic to eutrophic standing water habitats from small, man-made ponds and peat bogs to lagoons and sheltered, shallow bays in larger lakes. More rarely, it is also found along slow-flowing watercourses. S. paedisca and S. fusca are the only European dragonflies that overwinter as adults and can therefore theoretically be found at any time during the year. They are hence the most long-lived of our dragonflies as adults and can be on the wings for almost a whole year. They are very well camouflaged, especially in early spring in last year's vegetation and in autumn among withering plants. If it is cold, such as early or late in the season, it does not move unnecessarily and may not move when disturbed. During the autumn, they take refuge in suitable wintering sites which consist of dry, wind-protected places with knee-high vegetation. In Finland, wintering specimens are often seen along the coasts and in meadows or similar environments. These can be located several kilometres from suitable breeding habitats. In the Netherlands, it has been estimated that only half the population survives the winter. In early spring, they leave their wintering locations and start by foraging before arriving at water bodies for mating. The exuviae are found in low vegetation close to the water’s edge (Billqvist et al. 2019).

S. paedisca has been showing a positive trend for some time over most of its European range and within most of this area there are no threats. A combination of climate change and nutrient depletion that degrades the species' habitat is thought to be behind its decline locally. Climate change, on the other hand, is also considered to be a positive factor in its expansion in other parts of the distribution and in some places the extraction of peat to restore the amount of aquatic and floating vegetation has resulted in a subsequent increase (Kalkman 2010, Kalkman and Mauersberger 2015).

There is no trade or use of this species.

S. paedisca is included in the EU Habitats Directive Annex IV and for this reason management plans should be made. The habitats used by S. paedisca in Western Europe for reproduction are almost always of high biodiversity value and often these habitats have a very rich fauna. The species is therefore a strong indicator of habitat quality. For the isolated occurrences found in the Alps management plans and monitoring is needed. If any threats remain, they should be more local and hence need local actions (Kalkman 2010, Kalkman and Mauersberger 2015). It is highly likely that in the near future the southernmost populations will become increasingly restricted to higher altitudes.