Insect · GBIF taxon 7936251
Golden-ringed Dragonfly
Cordulegaster boltoniiAlso known as Golden-ringed Spiketail
Golden-ringed dragonflies patrol clear, fast-flowing acidic streams and moorland rivers, maintaining long, linear territories along the water edge. Females possess a uniquely elongated ovipositor, which they drive into soft stream beds with vertical pulsing motions to deposit eggs. These formidable predators snatch flying insects mid-air, returning to sunny heather perches to consume their catch.
PredatorFast-FlyingYellow and Black
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Damselflies
- Bees
- Flies
Predators
- Eurasian hobby
- Kingfishers
- Frogs
ThreatsStream pollution, water abstraction, habitat loss
HabitatsAcidic streams, moorland rivers, wet heathlands, woodland streams
Life span3–5 years (mostly as larvae; adults live 1–2 months)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyCordulegastridae
- SpeciesCordulegaster boltonii
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Stream Patrols: Stand quietly beside sunny, clear streams where males establish regular linear flight paths.
- Perch Spotting: Scan high heather and gorse bushes near water for resting adults digesting their prey.
Predator (c) Ani Sarkisyan, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Ani Sarkisyan · cc-by
Frequent Companion Ebertakis / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Close Relative
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