This is a slender-bodied zygopteran of small to medium size, characterized by a striking sexual dimorphism and vivid coloration. Adult males possess a predominantly bright red or intense orange abdomen, which is particularly conspicuous on the terminal segments, giving the species its specific epithet. The thorax and head display reddish tones combined with fine black dorsal lines. In contrast, females exhibit a much more cryptic coloration, with olive-brown or ochre hues, allowing them to blend effectively into the riparian vegetation. The wings are clear, membranous, and feature a small pterostigma of a reddish or brownish color on the outer anterior edge. The average body length ranges from 30 to 35 millimeters, with a proportional wingspan that grants them an extremely agile and precise flight.

Geographical distribution: This species is native to the south-central region of South America. Its distribution range widely covers eastern Argentina (mainly in the provinces of Buenos Aires, Entre Ríos, Corrientes, and Misiones), southern and southeastern Brazil (states of Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, and São Paulo), as well as a large part of Uruguay and eastern Paraguay. It is well represented in the hydrographic basins of the Paraná and Uruguay rivers, taking advantage of the biological corridors offered by these river systems.

Habitat: It preferably inhabits slow-moving or low-flow freshwater bodies, as well as lentic systems including permanent lagoons, swamps, wetlands, and marshes. It is a taxon closely associated with the presence of abundant emergent and floating aquatic vegetation, such as reeds, water hyacinths, and various macrophytes, which serve both as perches for resting adults and as shelter and hunting substrate for the aquatic larval stages. It tolerates moderate levels of anthropogenic disturbance as long as water quality and marginal vegetation structure are preserved.

Feeding: In both its larval and adult stages, it exhibits strictly predatory habits. Adults are active visual hunters that capture small flying insects in mid-air or through ambushing techniques, including mosquitoes, midges, flies, and micro-hymenopterans. Meanwhile, the nymphs or naiads inhabit the bottom of water bodies and submerged vegetation, where they use their extensible labium (mask) to voraciously capture other aquatic invertebrates, such as dipteran larvae, small crustaceans, and microturbellarians, playing a crucial role in the biological control of insect vector populations.

Behavior: It exhibits a markedly diurnal and heliophilic activity, being most active during the hours of greatest solar radiation. Males are territorial and tend to perch conspicuously on the tips of emergent vegetation leaves, making short, rapid flights to chase away competitors or intercept females. Their flight is low, generally remaining just a few centimeters above the water surface or the ground. During cloudy or rainy days, as well as during the night, they seek refuge in dense foliage and shrubs away from the shore to protect themselves from predators and harsh weather.

Reproduction: The reproductive cycle begins with a complex visual courtship and the establishment of tandem linkage, where the male grasps the female by the prothorax using his anal appendages, forming the characteristic copulatory wheel. Following fertilization, the female performs endophytic oviposition, piercing the soft tissues of live or decaying aquatic plants to deposit her individual eggs beneath the water surface. During this process, the male often remains attached in tandem or performs close guard flights to prevent other males from interfering. The aquatic larvae pass through multiple developmental stages before emerging from the water, climbing up a firm stem, and undergoing final metamorphosis to become flying adults.

Conservation status: Currently, this species is not evaluated under a critical global threat category and is generally considered of Least Concern (LC) throughout most of its distribution range. However, local populations face pressure due to wetland degradation, chemical pollution from agriculture, and uncontrolled urbanization, factors that drastically reduce the quality of aquatic environments essential for their larval development and long-term survival.