Invertebrates
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Cordulegaster boltonii
Above a peaty moorland stream in July, a golden-ringed dragonfly patrols a long beat, its black-and-yellow body glinting as it hunts low over the water.
Overview
The golden-ringed dragonfly, Cordulegaster boltonii, is a Least Concern dragonfly of fast-flowing streams on heathland and moorland across western and central Europe. Its black-and-yellow rings, green eyes, and stabbing egg-laying make it one of the most striking dragonflies of upland Europe.
A female with a stabbing tool
Rather than dropping eggs on the water, the female hovers upright and jabs her long ovipositor repeatedly into the stream bed, burying each egg in the sediment.
Status
Least Concern, widespread where clean streams survive.
Golden-ringed Dragonfly: common questions
Why is it called the golden-ringed dragonfly?
It is named for the bright yellow rings that run along its black abdomen.
How does the female lay her eggs?
She hovers upright over shallow water and jabs her long ovipositor down into the stream sediment to place her eggs.
How long does the larva live?
The larva lives buried in the silt of a stream bed for several years before emerging as an adult.
Where is the golden-ringed dragonfly found?
It lives along fast-flowing streams on heathland and moorland across western and central Europe.