Reproductive behavior ofAcanthagrion truncatumSelys, 1876 (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira,Kleber Del-Claro

doi:10.1080/13887890.2012.740596

Rhainer Guillermo-Ferreira, Kleber Del-Claro

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1080/13887890.2012.740596

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Abstract

Behavioral data on Neotropical coenagrionids is still scanty, with very few studies on their reproductive behavior. Here we present the first description of the reproductive behavior of A. truncatum in a high density population in the Brazilian Neotropical savanna. The observations were made at a pond in an ecological reserve. Males remain at the water searching for females. Females remain in the surrounding vegetation and only approach the water to mate and oviposit. The mean duration of copulation was 25.6±3.26 minutes. Copulations are concentrated between 12:00 and 14:00 h (71%). Females oviposit in tandem with males, sometimes submerging to oviposit. Oviposition took 43.08±22.17 minutes. Female underwater oviposition seems to disrupt male guarding and females emerge from the water by themselves. Male–male interactions usually consist of chases and “facing off”. This damselfly species is apparently non-territorial, since males did not defend resources and searched for females in the area.

Highlights

Reproductive behavior in Coenagrionidae damselflies presents many types and variations
Male–male interactions follow a pattern found in Ischnura (Robertson, 1985; Sirot & Brockmann, 2001), mainly consisting of short chases and facing off
Copulation duration in A. truncatum, much shorter than in some coenagrionids like Ischnura senegalensis (395.3 minutes) and Nehalennia speciosa (136 minutes), is similar to others (e.g. Coenagrion mercuriale, 23 min; C. puella, 28 min) and within a range that is common in non-territorial odonates (Cordoba-Aguilar et al, 2009)

Summary

Introduction

Reproductive behavior in Coenagrionidae damselflies presents many types and variations. Mean copulation duration may range from eight minutes in Erythromma lindenii to 395 min in Ischnura senegalensis (Cordoba-Aguilar et al, 2009, and references therein). In some species individuals copulate only once in their lifetime (Fincke, 1987). Since a female may receive from one mate enough sperm to fertilize all her egg clutches, unnecessary additional copulations are energetically costly (Fincke, 1987). Females may oviposit alone or in tandem with the male (Alves-Martins et al, 2012; Corbet, 1999; Guillermo-Ferreira & Del-Claro, 2011)

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