A woman was stunned when Britain’s longest dragonfly stopped to hitch a ride—on her thumb.
Sarah Hawkes came across the striking Golden-Ringed Dragonfly when walking near the Ceiriog River in Wales.
The insects can grow up to 4 inches (9cm) with a wingspan just as long.
Sarah, who happens to be a conservation officer of Buglife Wales, called the spectacular sighting a “gorgeous girl”.
“They are found mainly in Wales, Scotland and North West England because that is where their special habitat is found.
“They breed in the more acidic rivers and streams coming off peat and crossing sandy soils and rock types.”
“I was walking near the Ceiriog River in Wales, which tumbles down from the Berwyn Hills, and saw her clinging to a grass stem by a hedgerow.
“My dog and I go out early, so it was cool, and insects rely heavily on external heating from the sun, so she was still a bit lethargic—like me when I wake up!”
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“The Dee River Catchment, which the Ceiriog is part of, is in one of Britain’s ‘Important Insect Areas’ where there are some really special insects.”
The golden-ringed dragonfly can be seen on the wing from May to September, explained North Wales Wildlife Trust.
Despite their dainty wings, the dragonflies are voracious predators, feeding on large insects, like wasps, beetles, and bumblebees—and even other dragonflies.
They are fast, agile and powerful flyers, too. And even their larvae nymph-phase is menacing to other creatures.
“The larvae of the golden-ringed dragonfly live buried at the bottom of streams, ambushing prey as it passes by.
“They grow very slowly and may spend as long as five years in the water before they emerge to turn into a dragonfly.”
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