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| Large Red Damselflies (West Cork, ROI) |
The most enjoyable part of his job was done. All he had to
do now was hang onto her head.
It was a bit boring, but if he let her go another damselfly
might catch her and turf out his sperm. So he waited.
From his leafy vantage he surveyed his realm with satisfaction.
When he had reached maturity he had searched for a good
breeding ground. The vegetation beside this slow running stream offered an
excellent habitat.
Yet it was hard work. There always seemed to be another male
wanting his piece of prime real estate and he was constantly defending his
territory. His reward for his vigilance was this female who had flown in to
check him out and found him worthy.
From the moment she arrived and indicated her willingness,
he grabbed her by her thorax before moving into the tandem pose while he
readied his sperm. It didn’t take him long. Within a few seconds he changed
position and they curled themselves into a wheel to mate. Copulation took a
good deal longer - about fifteen minutes – although he didn’t mind that!
When they finished she tried to fly away but he grabbed her
head and held her in the tandem position again. It was only by forcing her to
stay attached to him, that he could guarantee she wouldn’t mate with rival
males before she laid her eggs.
He wished she would get on with it.
