Konge-guldsmed (Cordulegaster boltonii)
• Scientific name: Cordulegaster boltonii (Donovan, 1807)
• English name: Common Goldenring
• German name: Zweigestreifte Quelljungfer
• French name: Cordulégastre à front jaune
• Dutch name: Gewone bronlibel
• Swedish name: Kungstrollslända
• Norwegian name: Kongeøyenstikker
• Finnish name: Purokorento
• Danish name: Konge-guldsmed
• Italian name: Guardaruscello comune
• Czech name: páskovec kroužkovaný
• Slovenian name: Prodni studenčar
• Bulgarian name: N/A
• Typical length: 74-85 mm
• Hindwing: 40-51 mm
Of the seven European Goldenring species, the Common Goldenring is perhaps the most typical and widespread species. Cordulegaster boltonii is a Western and Northern European species; its range stretches from Scandinavia and the British Isles down to the Iberian peninsula and Italy. Its main distinguishing features include the yellow (rather than black) occipital triangle, and the pairs of golden rings (one wide; one narrow) on segments 2-8 of the abdomen. In all Goldenring species, the female lays her eggs by dipping her abdomen repeatedly in wet mud (or moss, etc.) in a pneumatic drill fashion. For an overview of the key differences between the species of the boltonii-complex and those of the bidentata-complex, hover your mouse pointer here.
LineDrawing: the male's abdomen in dorsal view.
