Cordulegaster picta is a very variable taxon in colour pattern which shows several morphs. Some populations are very yellow and resemble C. heros or some forms of C. insignis and C. helladica in colour pattern, others are very black and resemble C. bidentata, C. b. boltonii, C. trinacriae or even C. vanbrinkae with respect to their general colour. The black forms seem to be localized in the western Rhodopes mountains between Greece and Bulgaria, in European Türkiye and in northern Anatolia. The yellowest forms are known from the Eastern Rhodopes, from some East Aegean islands and from western and southern Anatolia. Intermediate populations are known as well. No subspecific differentiation is possible between these forms, as none show a proper geographic range. Only the examination of the abdominal appendages is needed for a correct identification of this species and all its morphs.

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

Cordulegaster picta is confined to the eastern part of the Balkans, Türkiye and the southern Caucasus. In Europe, it is more or less confined to the Rhodope Mountains (the border region of Greece, Bulgaria and Türkiye) and some Greek islands. Although the species has an Extent of Occurrence (EOO) of 131,022 km², due to its fragmented range and specialised biology and confinement to spring areas, headwater brooks and streams and small rivers, the species has a very small Area Of Occupancy (AOO) of only 476 km². Cordulegaster picta has a rather discrete behaviour making it difficult to detect. It is likely that more populations will be found in the rather less prospected southeastern part of Europe and that the AOO will exceed 500 km². Climate changes and increased water abstraction at springs for agriculture and human consumption are likely to have caused a decline in abundance of 30% through habitat loss and degradation and it is expected that this will continue. Therefore it qualifies as Vulnerable (A2ac+3c) for Europe and the EU27 Member States.

Cordulegaster picta has a relatively small range being restricted to southeast Europe and southwest Asia, where it is confined to Türkiye and the south Caucasian countries (Boudot et al. 2021, Schneider et al. 2021). In Europe, it is found in the Rhodope Mountains (the border region of Greece, Bulgaria and Türkiye) and several east Aegean islands such as Samos, Thasos and Lesbos (Boudot et al. 2015). It has also been discovered recently on the Black Sea coast in Russia (Kosterin and Solovyev 2017).

No data are available about population trends or population size. Nevertheless, climate changes and increased water abstraction from streams and springs for agriculture and human consumption, are likely to have caused a decline in abundance through habitat loss and degradation and it is expected that this will continue.

The species breeds in running waters, ranging from tiny shaded trickles and streamlets to middle-sized rivers, in hilly to mountainous areas. At seepage areas and springs, as well as on the upper reaches of rivers, it sometimes co-occurs with C. insignis (Boudot et al. 2015).

Cordulegaster picta is presumed to have declined as a result of habitat destruction and degradation, human exploitation of water, water pollution, eutrophication and forest destruction. It is threatened due to its very restricted distribution, its low number of known localities and its high level of stenotopy (adapted only to a specific environment). The current agricultural policy in southeastern Europe causes habitat declines by allowing for and favouring the cultivation and irrigation of olive trees, the change of water regime of streams and streamlets and the destruction of their gallery forest vegetation. Climatic change alone will also have a negative impact on breeding sites in the future, but this is already exacerbated by the increased water demand for agriculture.

There is no trade or use of this species.

River basin management plans should be worked on whereby special attention should be paid to ecological flows conforming to the European Water Framework Directive (WFD CIS, 2015). This should mitigate or even prevent 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. This species might benefit from 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.