Balkan Goldenring (Cordulegaster heros)
• Scientific name: Cordulegaster heros Theischinger, 1979
• English name: Balkan Goldenring
• German name: Grosse Quelljungfer
• French name: N/A
• Dutch name: Balkanbronlibel
• Swedish name: N/A
• Norwegian name: N/A
• Finnish name: N/A
• Danish name: N/A
• Italian name: Guardaruscello balcanico
• Czech name: páskovec velký
• Slovenian name: Veliki studenčar
• Bulgarian name: Балканско воденичарче
• Typical length: 77-96 mm
• Hindwing: 45-58 mm
The Balkan Goldenring (Cordulegaster heros) is a member of the so-called boltonii complex. During field trips to the Peloponnese in 2010 and 2015 we saw quite a few males and females, but of the latter managed to photograph only one, freshly emerged individual. In the field Cordulegaster heros proved to be relatively easily distinguishable from the hordes of Cordulegaster helladica which flew at the same sites; C. heros is clearly the larger and darker of the two species. The species' most distinguishing features include the shape of the male's upper appendages (almost touching at the base and from there diverging and curved), the number of cells in the anal triangle (typically five), and the pattern of the yellow marks on the side of the thorax and of S1. 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, and the male's head, thorax and abdomen in lateral view.
