Reproduction

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Reproduction in dragonflies and damselflies

Reproduction is the central goal of Odonata, ensuring their genes pass to the next generation. Their reproductive system and behaviour are unlike those of any other insects.

Male reproductive anatomy

Male dragonflies and damselflies possess two separate sets of reproductive organs:

Primary genitalia for producing sperm, located near the tip of the abdomen on segment 9.
Secondary genitalia for insemination, located near the base of the abdomen – on segment 3 in dragonflies and segment 2 in damselflies.

Because these organs are not connected, the male must first transfer sperm from the primary to the secondary genitalia. Dragonflies perform this transfer before approaching a female, whereas damselflies do it once the pair has formed a tandem.

The wheel posture

Due to this unusual arrangement, mating does not occur ‘tip to tip’ as in most insects. Instead, the female must bend her abdomen so that her segment 8 or 9 connects with the male’s secondary genitalia. This forms the characteristic ‘wheel’ posture, unique to Odonata.

Courtship and mate selection

Dragonflies and damselflies have evolved a variety of strategies to locate and secure mates.

Males are typically more brightly coloured, aiding in display and territorial defence.
Females often have more subdued colours, which may help conceal them during egg laying when they are more vulnerable.
Some species, such as the Banded demoiselle (Calopteryx splendens), perform elaborate courtship displays along rivers and streams.
Many dragonfly species are strongly territorial, vigorously chasing rivals from suitable breeding sites.
Male damselflies are generally less territorial and often gather in large numbers at good breeding locations.

Breeding is energetically demanding. Adults must feed frequently to maintain the resources needed for reproduction, and individuals may have ‘rest days’ between breeding attempts. Females typically visit water less often, allowing time to recover and produce new batches of eggs.

Copulation

The male’s abdominal tip bears specialised anal appendages used as claspers to hold the female in tandem.

In dragonflies, the female is grasped by the head.
In damselflies, she is held by the pronotum, a plate just behind the head.

The shapes of the claspers and pronotum are species‑specific, helping prevent hybridisation, though mixed pairings can occur in closely related species such as the emerald damselflies.

Once in tandem, the male bends his abdomen forward, enabling the female to connect her reproductive segment to his secondary genitalia. Copulation may last several hours in species like the Blue-tailed Damselfly (Ischnura elegans), but only seconds in species such as the Broad‑bodied Chaser (Libellula depressa), where mating occurs on the wing.

Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum Pair in tandem, Marston Thrift. The female is the drab form.
Common Blue Damselfly – Enallagma cyathigerum
Male and female pair resting in tandem.
Common Darter - Sympetrum striolatum Pair in tandem, Marston Thrift.
Common Darter – Sympetrum striolatum
Male and female pair flying in tandem.
Common Blue Damselfly - Enallagma cyathigerum Pair in tandem, Marston Thrift. The blue form female is missing most of its wings.
Common Blue Damselfly – Enallagma cyathigerum
Male and female in wheel posture.
Migrant Hawker - Aeshna mixta Pair in cop, Priory CP.
Migrant Hawker – Aeshna mixta
Male and female in wheel posture.

Egg laying – Oviposition

After mating, females lay their fertilised eggs immediately – there is no internal gestation period. Eggs are deposited in or near water, and a single female may lay hundreds or thousands of eggs.

Damselflies usually remain in tandem while ovipositing, or the male stays close by. Some dragonflies, such as hawkers, oviposit alone, while others remain paired.

Three oviposition strategies

Each species uses one of three distinct methods:

Exophytic oviposition – Eggs are released directly into water, sinking or settling on vegetation or other substrates. Darters and chasers often do this in flight, dipping the abdomen repeatedly. In tandem ovipositing species, the male ‘flicks’ the female downward with remarkable precision as she releases her eggs just below the surface of the water.
Endophytic oviposition – Eggs are inserted into plant tissue, mud, or rotting wood. This includes all damselflies and many dragonflies such as hawkers. Some species, like the Willow Emerald (Chalcolestes viridis), lay eggs in tree branches overhanging water; the larvae drop into the water upon hatching.
Epiphytic oviposition – Eggs are placed on the surface of floating or submerged vegetation. This method is less common and may offer less protection from predators.

Some damselflies submerge completely for several minutes while laying eggs. The male remains attached and helps the pair break the water’s surface tension when they resurface.

Eggs typically hatch within a few weeks, though in some species they overwinter and hatch the following spring.

Small Red-eyed Damselfly - Erythromma viridulum Male and Female ovipositing, The Grange Estate Willington.
Small Red-eyed Damselfly – Erythromma viridulum
Female ovipositing with male in tandem.
Broad-bodied Chaser – Libellula depressa Old female ovipositing, Marston.
Broad-bodied Chaser – Libellula depressa
Old female ovipositing with repeated dips of her abdomen into the water.
Emperor Dragonfly – Anax imperator Blue form female ovipositing at Brogborough Landfill.
Emperor Dragonfly – Anax imperator
Female ovipositing into reed stem alone.
Common Darter – Sympetrum striolatum Pair ovipositing in tandem, Brogborough Landfill.
Common Darter – Sympetrum striolatum
Pair ovipositing in tandem, the male flicks the female's abdomen into the water as she releases eggs.
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