Love is in the air
Finally pulled off this bucket list shot some time ago ....
Once a male dragonfly has located a female his first job is literally to grab hold of her. It may seem rather violent but he will chase her down, grasping hold of her thorax and even biting her. This chase is important for the male to prove his strength. Only the strongest males are likely to be able to hold a territory and chase down a female. He will then use his cerci (anal appendages which are shaped to perfectly lock in with the back of the female’s neck) to hold her by the neck. This is called tandem linkage.
Seeing dragonflies in this position they can look almost like a heart, looped around each other’s bodies. This is known as the wheel position. Many species will remain joined like this for long periods of time and can be even be seen flying like this.
Love is in the air
Finally pulled off this bucket list shot some time ago ....
Once a male dragonfly has located a female his first job is literally to grab hold of her. It may seem rather violent but he will chase her down, grasping hold of her thorax and even biting her. This chase is important for the male to prove his strength. Only the strongest males are likely to be able to hold a territory and chase down a female. He will then use his cerci (anal appendages which are shaped to perfectly lock in with the back of the female’s neck) to hold her by the neck. This is called tandem linkage.
Seeing dragonflies in this position they can look almost like a heart, looped around each other’s bodies. This is known as the wheel position. Many species will remain joined like this for long periods of time and can be even be seen flying like this.