[Odonata-l] Strange Copulation

[John C. Abbott]

I was out photographing Gomphus apomyius this weekend in east Texas and ran 
into something I had never seen before.  I found a pair in copula, but the 
male had released the female's head and his abdomen was moving back and 
forth above her.  Her abdomen appeared to be twisted a bit, but still in 
contact with his secondary genitalia.  I've posted a photo at 
http://odonatacentral.bfl.utexas.edu/apomyius.jpg  They stayed connected and 
were not eager to get away when I put a net over them.  Otherwise both 
individuals looked in fine condition.  I'm guessing they were disturbed a 
bit, possibly by a predator or even a car, but I was curious if anyone else 
has seen something similar in this or other species.

John
---------------------------------------------------------
John C. Abbott, Ph.D.
Section of Integrative Biology
Curator, Brackenridge Field Laboratory Insect Collection
Texas Memorial Museum Research Associate
1 University Station #L7000
The University of Texas at Austin
Austin, Texas 78712  USA

Office Phone: (512) 471-5467
Lab Phone: (512) 232-1896
Fax: (512) 475-6286
http://www.sbs.utexas.edu/jcabbott
http://www.odonatacentral.com
Email: jcabbott at mail.utexas.edu