A couple of Damsels
The last few weeks of July 2022 saw Assynt visited by several versions of summer weather! There were, thankfully a few really warm and fairly calm days. The latter are the days I like to go looking for Dragonflies and Damselflies (Odonata).
A site I often visit is the small unnamed lochan above Culkein Stoer as it has a variety of vegetation that suits several species. That’s where I headed on 31st July.
Slightly worryingly the only species seen that day was the Emerald Damselfly Lestes sponsa. I’ll put that down to the weather, for now! Thankfully, there were several pairs ‘mating’ using the stems of waterside vegetation to grasp during this activity. It was still windy enough during our visit to make the female also grab a stem from time to time.
Mating
The mating process with dragons and damsels is unique. Firstly, the male transfers sperm from near the tip of his abdomen to the accessory genitalia near the top of his abdomen. Next, he grasps a female by the back of her head using his abdominal claspers. When coupled like this the pair are in what is referred to as the tandem position.
After a period of time in tandem the female will curl the tip of her abdomen to meet the male’s accessory genitalia which is when sperm is transferred. This is known as the wheel position, but it can make the shape of a heart!
In the case of the Emerald Damselfly the female injects her fertilised eggs into the stems of rushes well above the water line. The pair will remain in the tandem position until egg laying is complete. You can often see the pair flying around like this. This is the male protecting his ‘investment’. All being well the eggs will hatch the following spring.
Different species of Odonata have different strategies for egg laying and hatching.
Fingers crossed we get a few more chances this summer to see these beautiful insects.
David Haines