How Do Dragonflies Mate? A Detailed Explanation of the Entire Dragonfly Mating Process
Dragonflies are the collective name for insects in the dragonfly family Libellulidae and the darner family Aeshnidae within the order Odonata. Adults generally fly over ponds or rivers hunting flying insects, while the larvae (nymphs) develop in water and are completely aquatic, with a form and habits completely different from the adults. The nymph forms of different species vary enormously, and the mating posture of dragonflies is also very unique. Let us take a look below at how dragonflies mate!
How do dragonflies mate?
The reproductive organs of dragonflies grow at the end of the abdomen, on the underside of the ninth abdominal segment. Before mating, the male transfers sperm from the genital pore to a second set of sexual organs located on the underside of the second and third abdominal segments, where it is stored. When the male grasps a female willing to mate, copulation begins. First, the male bends his abdomen and uses the mating projections of the claspers at the end of the abdomen to grip the rear side of the female's head or the dorsal plate of her prothorax. Then, the male relaxes the grip of his legs on the female, letting her hang easily from the end of his abdomen. The female bends her abdomen to make contact and presses the tip of her abdomen tightly against the male's secondary genitalia. Next, the male removes all the sperm left inside the female from previous matings, and then uses his penis-shaped organ to place his own sperm inside the female.
How do dragonflies lay eggs?
After mating, the female lays eggs immediately, or after several hours or days. There are two ways of laying eggs. In species with a well-developed ovipositor, the eggs are laid in or on plant tissues in the water or on the water's surface; some crawl underwater to lay eggs and can remain submerged for more than 1 hour. When laying eggs, some females do so while the male grips the rear side of their abdomen, "tandem" style, while others lay eggs without a male gripping them. Even without gripping the female, many males will guard them while they lay eggs, to prevent other males from taking an interest in that female.
Why do dragonflies skim the water?
Dragonflies usually lay their eggs on the water plants in small rivers and ponds. After the eggs are laid, the larvae that hatch on the water plants are called "naiads". The naiads must live a crawling life in the water for a long time, at least 1 year and at most seven or eight years, before they can emerge as adult dragonflies. After emerging as adults, their short, plump abdomens become increasingly slender and elongated, and the wings that were originally folded together unfold one by one, finally turning into a dragonfly like a little airplane. It can be seen that "dragonfly skimming the water" is a natural part of a dragonfly's life -- laying eggs to reproduce.