Golden-ringed dragonfly
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]
Golden-ringed dragonfly | |
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male Fermyn Woods, Northamptonshire | |
Scientific classification | |
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Species: | C. boltonii |
Binomial name | |
Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1807) | |
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
- "Cordulegaster boltonii". British Dragonfly Society. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
- "Golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii)". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2007-11-13. Retrieved February 7, 2008.
- "UK Safari". Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-04. Retrieved 2013-11-27.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
- "Wild Scotland". Archived from the original on October 6, 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- "Dragonflies at Plas Farm". Archived from the original on 2008-02-13. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
External links
- Media related to Cordulegaster boltonii at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Cordulegaster boltonii at Wikispecies