English name:  Northern Banded Groundling

Like other members of the skimmer family, the male Northern Banded Groundling tends to perch in a prominent spot for long periods, usually returning to the same lookout even after being disturbed. From this perch, he waits for a female to enter his territory.­

Size: small (2-3.5 cm).
Habitat: ponds, lakes and slowly flowing streams.
These groundlings tend to gather on paths. Even when disturbed, they fly only a short distance before landing on the path again. This behavior is reflected in their Hebrew name.
Distribution: North and central Africa, extending to the Central African Republic and Congo; the Middle East; Spain; the Mediterranean islands; and Italy.

Season: April-October (according to data from Turkey).  
It is very common in Israel.

Identification:
Male- its entire body is black.
The wings are transparent and have a black transverse band on them (diagnostic mark)
The pterostigma is white with a black tip on the outer side of the wing. (diagnostic mark)
 Female- its entire body is sandy brown.
The sides of the thorax are striped with black.
The sides of the abdomen are sandy with extensive black, while the eighth, ninth and tenth segments are almost completely black.
A black band like the male's sometimes appears on the wings, but it is more faded or completely absent.
The pterostigma is the same as the male's

Immature individuals resemble females.

Similar species:
Male- has a distinctive appearance and cannot be confused with any other species.
Female- almost all females of the family of skimmers are very similar, and attention must be paid to details to distinguish between them. If the black band appears on the wings, identification is easy and certain.