Diel changes in habitat use by dragonflies: Nocturnal roosting site selection by the threatened dragonfly Sympetrum depressiusculum (Odonata: Libellulidae)

Abstract

AbstractAlthough it is well recognized that insects' habitat use and requirements may change during the season, very little attention has been devoted to diel habitat changes in most insects. In this study, we compared habitat utilization patterns of Sympetrum depressiusculum (Selys, 1841) adult dragonflies between daytime activities and nocturnal roosting. During daytime, we captured and marked adult individuals with fluorescent paint in different habitats. At night, we searched, using UV light, for marked individuals that remained on the habitats. We found that habitat selection for daytime activities and that for nocturnal roosting differed significantly. Adults clearly avoided ponds and their immediate surroundings for nocturnal roosting, whereas this habitat type was frequently utilized for daytime activities. We suggest that nocturnal avoidance of the riparian area is associated with lower temperatures, which adversely affect thermoregulation, and that selection of specific habitats for nocturnal roosting is closely associated with vegetation structure providing stability during windy nights and serving as a suitable shelter. Such habitat properties are found especially on fallow land, a habitat type whose representation in agricultural areas has been gradually decreasing in recent decades.