The northern African populations pertain to the subspecies Calopteryx virgo meridionalis Selys, 1873, which is typical from the West Mediterranean area.

Calopteryx virgo is very rare in the Maghreb and half the known localities there probably have now been lost. The existing relictual populations show only a low number of imagoes. Similar subpopulations occur in southern Spain, but a spontaneous immigration is unlikely due to the restricted displacements of Calopteryx species and the barrier of the Straight of Gibraltar. Not endemic but not found elsewhere in Africa.

It is assessed as Critically Endangered in northern Africa because of its restricted current range (extent of occurrence less than100 km², area of occupancy less than 10 km²), severe fragmentation (the population in northern Africa is currently known to exist in only two widely separated locations), and ongoing decline. The population in this region is also very small; possibly less than 50 adults exist there.

C. virgo is a typical species in the western Mediterranean area, but it is very rare in northern Africa. It may already be extinct in Algeria (only two records from 1849 and 1910 are known from there). Only two current localities are known, both in Morocco.

Only four localities have been recorded for this taxon in the Maghreb. The two valid present subpopulations count only a few imagoes.

This taxon reproduces in mountain brooks.

Water management, water pollution and drought in connection to global warming as well as urban development and changes in the structural features of brooks are the main threats for this species.

Control of water pollution and reserve establishment through policy-based actions, increasing awareness, and research into population numbers and range, biology and ecology, habitat status, threats, and trends/monitoring would be valuable.