Golden-ringed dragonfly

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Golden-ringed dragonfly
Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) male.jpg
male
Fermyn Woods, Northamptonshire
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Odonata
Suborder:
Anisoptera
Family:
Cordulegastridae
Genus:
Cordulegaster
Species:
C. boltonii
Binomial name
Cordulegaster boltonii
(Donovan, 1807)
Synonyms
  • Libellula grandis Scopoli, 1763 (Preocc.)
  • Libellula forcipata Harris, 1780 (Preocc.)
  • Aeshna annulata Latreille, 1805 (Preocc.)
  • Libellula boltonii Donovan, 1807
  • Cordulegaster boltoni Auctt. (Missp.)
  • Cordulegaster lunulata Charpentier, 1840
  • Cordulegaster annulatus immaculifrons Selys, 1850
  • Cordulegaster annulatus intermedius Selys, 1857
  • Cordulegaster boltonii intermedia (Selys, 1857)
  • Aeschna lorenzonii Disconzi, 1865
  • Cordulegaster algerica Morton, 1916
  • Cordulegaster algirica Auctt. (Missp.)
  • Cordulegaster boltonii iberica Boudot & Jacquemin 1995

The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a large, striking dragonfly and the longest British species,[1] the only member of its genus to be found in the United Kingdom.[2]

Identification[]

They are easily identified by their distinctive black and yellow stripes, which no other dragonfly in the United Kingdom has.[3] A very large species, males average 74 mm and the larger females 84 mm. Wingspan is up to 101 mm.[4]

Larvae[]

The female lays the eggs in shallow water. The hairy larvae live at the bottom of the water and are well camouflaged amongst the silt.[5] They emerge after about 2–5 years, and usually under the cover of darkness.

Behaviour[]

They are often seen flying leisurely over mountain streams or a river; they also occasionally show up at a pond. They are also typically seen flying over heath land. Their bright yellow and black stripes make them easy to identify, even from a fair distance away. They feed mainly on insects ranging from small prey such as midges to flies, butterflies and even bumblebees. This strikingly-coloured insect is incredibly aerobatic and they sometimes fly very high up into the sky.[6]

See also[]

  • List of British dragonflies

References[]

  1. ^ "Cordulegaster boltonii". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  2. ^ "Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii)". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2007-11-13. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  3. ^ "UK Safari". Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  4. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-11-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  5. ^ "Wild Scotland". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  6. ^ "Dragonflies at Plas Farm". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-02-07.

External links[]


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