Breeding Behaviour and Oviposition in Hetaerina americana (Fabricius) and H. titia (Drury) (Odonata: Agriidae)

Abstract

The objective of this study is to describe the copulatory and ovipositional behaviour of Hetaerina americana and H. titia, and to depict any differences in such behaviour as may exist between these two species. It is quite important in such studies to understand the mechanisms which assure conspecific mating. Both americana and titia are found breeding together on many of the streams of central Texas. Williamson (1906) pointed out that species in which the abdominal appendages were very similar often had sexually dimorphic and/or specifically distinct wing coloration, while species with clear wings had quite distinct abdominal appendages. These different wing patterns were suggested as functioning in species recognition for conspecific mating. Buchholtz (1951, 1955) experimentally verified that the females of Calopteryx splendens recognize and respond to males of their own species through a set of optical stimuli including the color pattern of the wing. Loibl (1958) and Krieger and Krieger-Lobl (1958) experimentally demonstrated that in Lestes dryas, L. sponsa, Ischnura elegans and I. pumila, all of which have clear, colorless wings, the species recognition factors are the shape of the abdominal appendages and body coloration. Williamson's early inferences appear to have been well documented.