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Abstract
Ceriagrion coromandelianum (Fabricius) is one of the most common damselflies in the Indian subcontinent. It flies among bushes and breeds in stagnant pools, small garden tanks, tubs and ornamental cement ponds containing submerged and/or floating vegetation. The oviposition behaviour of C. coromandelianum was observed at the botanical garden of Hislop College, Nagpur, India, where small underground cement tubs are utilized to grow macrophytes. C. coromandelianum displays a refined hierarchy of preferences for oviposition and chooses floating leaves of Nymphaea nouchali (69%) over Lemna paucicostata (23%) and submerged Hydrilla verticillata (8%). In an uninterrupted oviposition bout, the female deposits 283 eggs in 16 rows (N=5) on the under surface of the N. nouchali leaf. The tiny leaves of L. paucicostata holds 7.8 eggs in 4.8 rows (N=10). In H. verticillata, the internode region of the stem can house 25.4 eggs (N=10). One or two eggs are also found neatly inserted in the thin leaf base of H. verticillata. Decaying plant material is never used for oviposition. The present investigation also clearly demonstrates that the choice of oviposition substrate not only depends upon the presence of aquatic species in the water body but also on the spatial location of the oviposition site.
Highlights
MATERIAL AND METHODSHabitat selection for oviposition is a vital and complex behavior undertaken by odonates, after the termination of copulation
In continuation with the study of the reproductive biology of this species, the present paper describes the oviposition of Ceriagrion coromandelianum with reference to choice, insertion and deposition of egg in the aquatic plants Nymphaea nouchali Burm, f., Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royde and Lemna paucicostata Hegelm. 6746
The female evaluates the undersurface of the substrate by feeling and testing the plant material with the stylus of her ovipositor. If she finds that the substrate is not suitable for oviposition, she repositions herself by moving a few inches along the rim of the leaf lamina or relocates to a different site, not more than 5cm away
Summary
MATERIAL AND METHODSHabitat selection for oviposition is a vital and complex behavior undertaken by odonates, after the termination of copulation. Choice of ovipositing material primarily depends upon “the initial preference” which is a suitable place both, for landing and easy deposition of egg in the plant tissue (Waage 1987; Martens 1992, 1993, 1994, 1996, 2001). In continuation with the study of the reproductive biology of this species, the present paper describes the oviposition of Ceriagrion coromandelianum with reference to choice, insertion and deposition of egg in the aquatic plants Nymphaea nouchali Burm, f., Hydrilla verticillata (L.f.) Royde and Lemna paucicostata Hegelm.
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