[Odonata-l] zygopteran appendage shape

[Ylightfoot@aol.com]

In a message dated 12/6/2006 1:47:13 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
dennispaulson at comcast.net writes:
Species of Argia oviposit mostly in the open, often in current and where 
there would be nothing for the male to grasp. Enallagma much more often oviposit 
on emergent vegetation or floating vegetation in still water where the male can 
rest at water level. 
Hi Dennis:

Interesting topic.  I have some video footage of Enallagma civile ovipositing 
in tandem, and the male is upright and not holding on to anything, but as I 
recall, he is flapping his wings like crazy.  It seems to me Argia males are 
able to remain attached upright with their wings still, no?  In the instance of 
E. civile oviposition above I believe the pair were ovipositing on the 
undersurfaces of small floating leaf clusters in a creek, so habitat might have been 
involved.  Would be interesting to note if others report Argia males standing 
erect with wings still versus Enallagma males standing erect (when they do so) 
with wings moving, while ovipositing in tandem.

Argia also have tori on the dorsoapical margin of segment 10 which may serve 
as extra "padding" or support for maintaining a still, vertical position while 
attached to the ovipositing female.

Cheers,

Tim
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