1. Sympetrum fonscolombii dragonflies are believed to migrate seasonally. In the spring and early summer, the already-mature dragonflies arrive in Middle Asia for reproduction. In the late summer and autumn, summer-generation dragonflies migrate to the south. Their wintering places remain unknown. 2. Stable hydrogen (δ 2 H) and oxygen (δ 18 O) isotope analyses were conducted to confirm the migration of S. fonscolombii and determine the wintering area. Stable isotope composition of carbon (δ 13 C) and nitrogen (δ 15 N) in wings and legs was used to clarify the habitats in which dragonfly development took place. 3. Three cohorts of dragonflies collected in different regions of Middle Asia were used for analysis: (i) immigrants that arrived in the spring, (ii) residents that developed in Middle Asia, and (iii) transit dragonflies migrating to the south during autumn. 4. The average δ 2 H values in the wings were significantly higher in immigrants (−96‰) than in residents (−134‰) and transit individuals (−124‰). High δ 18 O and δ 15 N values in the tissue of immigrants confirmed their southerly origin. 5. Based on the species range and the global distribution of annual averages of δ 2 H and δ 18 O values in precipitation, the latitudinal migrations of S. fonscolombii were inferred to cover the area from the proposed natal regions of immigrants in SouthWest Asia (below ∼36 ∘ N) to Southern Ural and the south of Western Siberia in the north (54-55 ∘ N) with a maximum migration distance of more than 4000 km.

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