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Cordulegaster boltonii - Golden-ringed Dragonfly Upland rivers and streams, Western England, Wales and Scotland. |
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Relatively common near fast flowing rivers and streams, the nymphs live in the silt or gravel along the river bottom, with the adults emerging during June and August. At 70-80mm in length, the Golden-ringed is one of our largest and most spectacular Dragonflies. The open lochs, streams and marshland at Knowetops provide ideal habitats for several species of Dragon and Damselfly. |
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The head of a Dragonfly nymph |
The Dragonflies are amongst the fastest and most agile of insects and are ferocious predators. The insect equivalent of fighter aircraft they take other insects on the wing, the specimen above is eating a Bumblebee! They lay their eggs in water and the nymphs are also accomplished hunter-killers taking other insects, tadpoles and even small fish. A truly ancient group of insects, Dragonflies with one metre wingspans patrolled the coal swamps of the Carboniferous 350 million years ago. Today's Dragon and Damselflies are somewhat smaller, but still spectacular as they dart to and fro in search of prey. |
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In flight it can be difficult to distinguish a Dragonfly from a Damselfly, however, when at rest they are easier to identify by looking at the position of the wings |
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Four-spotted Chaser, a Dragonfly |
Large Red Damselfly |
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Dragonflies hold their wings out to the sides of their body, they are also generally larger than Damselflies and have large eyes which usually meet at the top of the head. |
Damselflies hold their wings above their body, they also tend to be rather more slender and delicate than Dragonflies, with smaller, well separated, eyes. |
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Photo - Top: B. Soames, centre, bottom left and right: D. Heward |
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