Head to head
Golden-ringed Dragonfly vs Dragonhunter
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
VS Dragonhunter
The golden-ringed dragonfly of Europe and the dragonhunter of eastern North America are two large dragonflies of clean flowing streams, with larvae that live underwater for years.
| Golden-ringed Dragonfly | Dragonhunter | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Cordulegaster boltonii | Hagenius brevistylus |
| Size | Among the longest dragonflies in Europe, with a body of around 7 cm | Among the largest dragonflies in North America, exceeding most others in its habitat |
| Hunting | Catches flying insects such as flies and bees | Hunts large flying insects, including other dragonflies, sometimes nearly its own size, caught with powerful legs |
| Behaviour | Patrols a long beat over a stream, and the female jabs her ovipositor into the stream sediment to lay eggs | Often perches on vegetation along stream banks, using the perches as vantage points to spot prey |
| Larva | Lives buried in the silt of a stream bed for several years before emerging | An underwater nymph for a period that can last several years |
| Habitat | Fast-flowing streams on heathland and moorland | Clean, forested streams and rivers, with spiny-legged adults perching on bank vegetation |
| Range | Western and central Europe | Eastern North America |
| Conservation status | Least Concern, though it needs clean, fast-flowing streams | Least Concern |
Golden-ringed Dragonfly vs Dragonhunter: common questions
Which dragonfly eats other dragonflies?
The dragonhunter, which attacks other dragonflies close to its own size using powerful, spiny legs.
How long do the larvae live underwater?
Both have larvae that live underwater for several years before the adult emerges.
Where do they live?
The golden-ringed dragonfly lives along fast streams in western and central Europe, while the dragonhunter lives along clean forested streams in eastern North America.