The Asiatic Gomphus ubadschii Schmidt 1953, considered as a subspecies of G. flavipes for a long time, is now placed at the full species rank. The so-called subspecies Gomphus flavipes sibirica Bartenev, 1909 is not different from the European taxon and has not been validated.

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

Stylurus flavipes went extinct in large parts of western Europe due to a decline in the 20th century. The species has increased strongly since the 1990s and it has re-colonised its former range. This increase in records is mostly due to a genuine increase and is the result of a much better water quality due to several national and European legislations (e.g. Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive), resulting, after several decades of efforts, in a much better water quality in many rivers in Europe. S. flavipes is listed in the EU Habitats Directive (Annex IV) and the Bern Convention (Annex II). It has an increasing population is listed as Least Concern in Europe and for the EU27 Member States.

Stylurus flavipes is a Eurasian species ranging from the Atlantic coast of France to east Siberia where it is mostly confined to large lowland river systems (e.g., Rhine, Rhône, Loire, Po, Elbe, Odra, Danube in Central Europe), but also reproduces in smaller rivers, big streams, wide irrigation ditches and big canals (Albert Canal in Belgium). The species showed a strong decline in Western Europe in the 20th century but has shown a strong increase since the 1990s (e.g., Bouwman et al. 2008, Brockhaus and Fisher 2005, Hunger et al. 2006, De Knijf et al. 2014).

The species went extinct in large parts of western Europe due to a decline in the 20th century, however it has increased strongly since the 1990s and it has re-colonised its former range. This increase in records is mostly due to a genuine increase and the result of a much better water quality due to several national and European legislations (e.g. Habitats Directive, Water Framework Directive), resulting, after several decades of efforts, in a much better water quality in many rivers in Europe.

Stylurus flavipes is confined to large lowland rivers with sandy to silty bottom with organic sediment. Nearly all populations are found below 400 metres. It also occurs in tributaries of those large rivers and probably has a more diffuse distribution. For example, in the plain of the Po River it is scattered over the network of channels used for rice field management. The species also reproduces in small to big canals, like the Albert Canal in Belgium (De Knijf et al. 2014) and can be locally very common.

Stylurus flavipes is included in the European Habitats Directive (Annex IV). The most important threats are water pollution, intervention in natural processess in rivers and alluvia, including gravel extraction and river and bank regulation. During the 20th century, the species disappeared from a major part of its European range, but due to a much better water quality than several decades ago and a legal protection due to the European Habitats Directive, S. flavipes was able to recolonise most of its former range.

There is no trade or use of this species.

Stylurus flavipes is included in the European Habitats Directive (Annex IV). This EU Directive states that member states of the EU27 must take the necessary measures so that the conservation status of the species is favourable. As a consequence, several programmes and actions were taken, often funded through EU LIFE projects. The most important conservation measures are habitat and natural process restoration. Locally site management is important to provide sufficient substrate for emergence. Prevention of water pollution is another important issue.