Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) ovipositing with male hover-guarding* PFN
Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) female ovipositing while male hover-guarding nearby.
Location not recorded. :-(
July 3, 1992.
Scanned from original (underexposed) Kodachrome 64 transparency
*NOTE: Since posting this image, I've taken technically superior digital photographs of this hover-guarding behaviour here:
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/18622073071/
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/18617846475/
I include this photo not for its photographic excellence, but because it demonstrates some very cool natural history--the way Ebony Jewelwings lay their eggs.
Males "hover-guard" the female they've mated with, while they oviposit, chasing away all potential rivals. This ensures that his genes safely make it to the next generation.
Other species or families of damselfly remain joined (in tandem) while the female oviposits. Here are some examples of that behaviour...
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/7468510762
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/7475360860
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/7475470762
Male damselflies are pretty devious when it comes to sex. The male damselfly's penis has a little scooping device. When they mate, they can actually clear out the previous male's sperm and replace it with their own. You can see why it would be advantageous to guard their mate and supervise her safe delivery of his progeny.
Photographs, Text and Videos ©Jay Cossey, PhotographsFromNature.com (PFN)
All rights reserved. Contact: PhotographsFromNature@gmail.com
My second book, "Familiar Butterflies of Indiana and their Natural History" is now available!
Please check out my first book, "Southern Ontario Butterflies and their Natural History". :-)
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/32381163732/
My website: www.PhotographsFromNature.com
Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) ovipositing with male hover-guarding* PFN
Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) female ovipositing while male hover-guarding nearby.
Location not recorded. :-(
July 3, 1992.
Scanned from original (underexposed) Kodachrome 64 transparency
*NOTE: Since posting this image, I've taken technically superior digital photographs of this hover-guarding behaviour here:
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/18622073071/
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/18617846475/
I include this photo not for its photographic excellence, but because it demonstrates some very cool natural history--the way Ebony Jewelwings lay their eggs.
Males "hover-guard" the female they've mated with, while they oviposit, chasing away all potential rivals. This ensures that his genes safely make it to the next generation.
Other species or families of damselfly remain joined (in tandem) while the female oviposits. Here are some examples of that behaviour...
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/7468510762
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/7475360860
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/7475470762
Male damselflies are pretty devious when it comes to sex. The male damselfly's penis has a little scooping device. When they mate, they can actually clear out the previous male's sperm and replace it with their own. You can see why it would be advantageous to guard their mate and supervise her safe delivery of his progeny.
Photographs, Text and Videos ©Jay Cossey, PhotographsFromNature.com (PFN)
All rights reserved. Contact: PhotographsFromNature@gmail.com
My second book, "Familiar Butterflies of Indiana and their Natural History" is now available!
Please check out my first book, "Southern Ontario Butterflies and their Natural History". :-)
www.flickr.com/photos/74102791@N05/32381163732/
My website: www.PhotographsFromNature.com