The species has a wide distribution across northern, central and eastern Europe and Siberia and mostly found in Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland, Russia, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovakia, Sweden, and Ukraine. Its natural habitats are rivers, intermittent rivers, swamps, freshwater lakes, intermittent freshwater lakes, freshwater marshes, and intermittent freshwater marches. It is threatened by habitat loss.

The species habitats mostly in still waters populated by the plant Stratiotes aloides. The species has also been reported from a few odd lakes without this plant present.

Red List status as Least Concern. Population size is likely very large, and although the population in western parts of the species' range may be affected by habitat disturbance and changes, it is not believed to be globally threatened. 

Protected in all countries within the European Union. There is also a species action plan in the Netherlands.