| Golden-ringed Dragonfly | |
|---|---|
| Cordulegaster boltonii, male | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Family: | Cordulegastridae |
| Genus: | Cordulegaster |
| Species: | C. boltonii |
| Binomial name | |
| Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1807) |
|
The Golden-ringed Dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a large, striking dragonfly and the longest British species,[1] the only one of its genus to be found in Britain. [2]
Contents |
They are easily identified by their distinctive black and yellow stripes, which no other dragonfly in Britain has. [3]
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. [4] They emerge after about 2-5 years, and usually under the cover of darkness.
They are often seen flying leisurely over mountain streams or a river; they also occasional 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 bumble bees. This strikingly-coloured insect is incredibly aerobatic and they sometimes fly very high up into the sky. [5]