- Golden-ringed Dragonfly
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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
Identification
They are easily identified by their distinctive black and yellow stripes, which no other dragonfly in Britain has. [3]
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. [4] 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 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]
See also
- List of British dragonflies
External links
- Media related to Cordulegaster boltonii at Wikimedia Commons
- Data related to Cordulegaster boltonii at Wikispecies
References
- ^ "Cordulegaster boltonii". British Dragonfly Society. http://british-dragonflies.org.uk/species/golden-ringed-dragonfly. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
- ^ "Article on 'arkive'". arkive. http://www.arkive.org/species/ARK/invertebrates_terrestrial_and_freshwater/Cordulegaster_boltonii/. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "UK Safari". http://www.uksafari.com/goldenring.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Wild Scotland". http://www.wild-scotland.co.uk/dragonflies.aspx. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
- ^ "Dragonflies at Plas Farm". http://www.welshholidaycottages.com/countryside/dragonfly-species.htm. Retrieved 2008-02-07.
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