Golden-Ringed Dragonfly

Golden-Ringed Dragonfly

Cordulegaster boltonii

Daily sighting probability <5% · Rare
at Lisbon

In 3 days ~10% in a week ~20%

6 Verified sightings at Lisbon
436 In all 9 parks From 2019 to 2026
May Best month
☀️ Diurnal When it's spotted

About the Golden-Ringed Dragonfly

The golden-ringed dragonfly (Cordulegaster boltonii) is a large, striking species of dragonfly found widely in Europe and locally in northwestern Africa, especially near flowing waters like streams. It is the longest British species of dragonfly, and the only member of its genus to be found in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom, they are easily identified by their distinctive black and yellow stripes, which is not found in any other dragonfly in the country. A very large species, males average 74 mm (2.9 in) and the longer females average 84 mm (3.3 in). Wingspan is up to 101 mm (4.0 in). The female is the longest British dragonfly, in part due to the unusually long ovipositor, and in other measurements it is exceeded by the emperor (Anax imperator).

The female lays the eggs in shallow water. The hairy larvae live at the bottom of the water and are well camouflaged amongst the silt. They emerge after about 2–5 years, and usually under the cover of darkness. They are often seen flying leisurely over mountain streams or a river; they also occasionally show up at a pond. They are also typically seen flying over heath land. Their... Wikipedia →

Global Distribution

Parks Where Found

# Park Country Daily sighting probability
1 Snowdonia National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
2 Cairngorms National Park 🇬🇧 United Kingdom
~20%
3 Cévennes National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
4 Pyrénées National Park 🇫🇷 France
~20%
5 Sierra Nevada National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
6 Picos de Europa National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
7 Aigüestortes National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~20%
8 Sierra de Guadarrama National Park 🇪🇸 Spain
~10%
9 Bavarian Forest National Park 🇩🇪 Germany
~10%

Cities Where Found

# City Country Daily sighting probability
1 Porto 🇵🇹 Portugal
~10%
2 Lisbon 🇵🇹 Portugal
<5%

Before you go

What are the chances of seeing a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly in Lisbon?

Rare

Under 5% of wildlife watchers report a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly sighting in Lisbon on a given day, based on 6 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 361st most-seen of the 441 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 10%, and over a week to about 20%, if each day is a fresh chance.

When is the best time to see a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly in Lisbon?

May

In that month about 10% of wildlife watchers report a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly in Lisbon on a given day, against under 5% in June to April, the lowest months.

What time of day is best to see a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly?

Between 11 am and 2 pm

Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Golden-Ringed Dragonfly sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.

Is Lisbon the best place to see a Golden-Ringed Dragonfly?

2nd of 2

Of the 2 cities where we can rate Golden-Ringed Dragonfly sightings, Lisbon ranks 2nd at under 5%. The best odds are in Porto (Portugal, about 10%).

Which relatives of the Golden-Ringed Dragonfly live in Lisbon?

Same order: Odonata

The closest relatives of the Golden-Ringed Dragonfly that you can see in Lisbon (order Odonata, Dragonflies and Damselflies) are Nomad (about 10%), Broad Scarlet (about 10%) and Iberian Bluetail (about 10%), with each one's daily chance of a sighting.

Where does the Golden-Ringed Dragonfly sighting chance come from?

GBIF citizen-science records

It is estimated from how often the Golden-Ringed Dragonfly is recorded against all the insects logged in Lisbon (6 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.

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