The presence of a decolorate Sympetrum in Europe was mentioned for the first time by F. RIS (1911, Colins zool. Edm. de Selys Longchamps 13:525-700) on the basis of a couple from Catalunya, NE-Spain, deposited in the Selys Collection (leg. Cuni y Martorel in the late 19th century). The animals were described as having a pale colouration like S. decoloratum Selys, but the genital morphology hardly distinguishable from S. vulgatum (L.). RIS (1911, op.cit.) avoided any taxonomic fixation. For lack of illustrations the animals remained unidentified until now. Meanwhile both species in question were brought on record from the Iberian Peninsula: S. vulgatum ibericum Ocharan from N Spain (F.J. OCHARAN, 1985, Bol. Cien. Nat. I D EA. 36: 75-85), and S. decoloratum sinaiticum Dumont from Andalucia, S Spain (M. FERRERAS-ROMERO, 1989, Natal, adnnalal. 3: 44). Both authors agreed in their assumption that the Catalan animals might be identical with S. vulgatum ibericum. After an examination of the original material in the Brussels Museum of Natural History, this can now be confirmed.