In this article we report underwater oviposition and epilithic oviposition in Anisoptera. We observed Notoaeschna sagittata totally submerged ovipositing on bare rock in the fast current of a rapid. Dendroaeschna conspersa oviposited also underwater, but into wood submerged in very clear water.
The European Platycnemis acutipennis and P. latipes and the African Mesocnemis singularis aggregate during oviposition. Choice experiments show that, in all three species, groups develop because tandems preferentially land where conspecifics already show oviposition behaviour. Just a single motionless male in the typical vertical position of a tandem male stimulates aggregation and oviposition behaviour in…
In a heterogeneous environment, males of Somatochlora flavomaculata regularly occupy site-fixed locations away from water, adjacent to vertical landscape elements, and to a lesser extent, also at water, i.e. at oviposition sites. Territories both over land and over water are typically patrolled by continuous site-fixed flights. These places serve as rendezvous sites where copulation is…
The reproductive behaviour of Neurobasis kaupi was studied for the first time in Central and South Sulawesi. The species was recorded in a wide variety of clear and fast flowing creeks, streams and rivers, mostly in forested areas. The males were territorial and defended potential oviposition sites, a limited resource. Territory owners demonstrated their presence…
Predation of aggregated, ovipositing tandems of Sympetrum sanguineum and S. vulgatum by the hornet Vespa crabro was observed in Belarus. The same species of hornet was seen killing territorial males and copulating females of Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis in Italy. Numerous remains of these odonates at the oviposition sites suggest that attacks occur frequently. A short review…
Although the endemic damselfly, Platycnemis subdilatata Selys, 1849, is widespread in the Maghreb, many aspects of its reproductive behaviour, biology and ecology are still unstudied. One particular feature of this species is that its coloration pattern continues to change during maturation and afterwards, which makes it a good model for assessing age effects on behavioural…
The reproductive behaviour of Libellago semiopaca was studied on a swift-flowing shallow forest stream in Brunei. Females oviposited just below the water-line, commonly in groups, only on large, firm-textured, semi-submerged logs, usually guarded by males. Both sexes were very sedentary. Suitable sites, with good illumination and deep deposits of fine gravel and leaf mulch in…
Pseudagrion lalakense, a new species of coenagrionid from Borneo, is described and figured. The species is phylogenetically close to the very widespread and eurytopic P. microcephalum and the two fly together. P. lalakense may be distinguished from microcephalum and several other similar blue species by the pattern on the thorax and abdomen in both sexes…
Although a full life cycle approach is optimally needed to make conservation decisions, the egg stage is often neglected for insect species of special conservation interest. Water management and related abiotic factors are relevant factors to consider in aquatic species. Lestes macrostigma is a threatened damselfly restricted to temporary brackish waters. Here we provide detailed…
Coenagrion mercuriale is a threatened damselfly in most parts of its geographic distribution. It is listed as endangered in North Africa, where no data on its biology or ecology are available. This study aims to illustrate the reproductive behaviour and habitat preferences of adults in a population located in north-east Algeria, representing the southern limit…