Golden-ringed_dragonfly

Golden-ringed dragonfly

Golden-ringed dragonfly

Species of dragonfly

The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a large, striking species of dragonfly found widely in Europe and locally in northwestern Africa, especially near flowing waters like streams.[1] It is the longest British species of dragonfly,[2] and the only member of its genus to be found in the United Kingdom.[3]

Quick Facts Conservation status, Scientific classification ...

Identification

In the United Kingdom, they are easily identified by their distinctive black and yellow stripes, which is not found in any other dragonfly in the country.[4] A very large species, males average 74 mm (2.9 in) and the longer females average 84 mm (3.3 in). Wingspan is up to 101 mm (4.0 in).[5] The female is the longest British dragonfly, in part due to the unusually long ovipositor,[2] and in other measurements it is exceeded by the emperor (Anax imperator).[6]

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.[7] 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.[8]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Paulson, D.R. (2020). "Cordulegaster boltonii". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T165509A140511553. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T165509A140511553.en. Retrieved 11 November 2021.
  2. [2]
    "Cordulegaster boltonii". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  3. [3]
    "Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii)". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2007-11-13. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
  4. [4]
    "UK Safari". Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  5. [5]
    "Golden-ringed dragonfly videos, photos and facts - Cordulegaster boltonii - ARKive". Archived from the original on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-11-27.
  6. [6]
    "Emperor". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 25 November 2023.
  7. [7]
    "Wild Scotland". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
  8. [8]
    "Dragonflies at Plas Farm". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
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This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Golden-ringed_dragonfly, and is written by contributors. Text is available under a CC BY-SA 4.0 International License; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.