[Odonata-l] effect of rain on ode numbers?

[Carlo Utzeri]

I have anecdotical evidence of a male Sympetrum striolatum which I had 
forgotten in its envelope, that was still moving his legs 14 days after 
netting. In my experience, specimens of Sympetrum and Lestes (including 
Chalcolestes) resisted starvation for quite many days.
On a physiological perspective, I would say that the number of days a dragon 
/ damsel survives without food be related to several factors, including the 
severity of injuries caused by capture, which could not be obvious, and the 
temperature they experience during starvation: at high temperatures they 
should die earlier because of their higher metabolic rate, and vice versa. 
On an ecological perspective, I think that species that fly in autumn (like 
some Sympetrum and Lestes in Italy) might be adapted to survive without 
feeding for longer periods compared to those that fly in spring or summer, 
since they are more likely to cope with periods of bad weather.
Carlo Utzeri

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Kathy &/or Dave Biggs" <bigsnest at sonic.net>
Cc: "'odonata-l'" <odonata-l at listhost.ups.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, October 10, 2007 6:23 AM
Subject: Re: [Odonata-l] effect of rain on ode numbers?


> This is all very interesting.
> I'm wondering how long a dragonfly can live without food.
> I know that the headless ones where I've accidently knocked the head off
> with my net rim, can live at least 3 days without food. At that point
> I've despaired and put them in the acetone. Anyone kept one until it died?
> Cheers!!
> Kathy Biggs
>
> -- 
> California Dragonflies        http://www.sonic.net/dragonfly
> Southwest Dragonflies        http://southwestdragonflies.net/
> Bigsnest Wildlife Pond        http://www.bigsnestpond.net/
> ------------------------------------------------------------------
> Kathy and Dave Biggs        bigsnest at sonic.net      707-823-2911
> 308 Bloomfield Rd.             Sebastopol, CA  95472
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> -----------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> Paul M. Brunelle wrote:
>
>>Hello All;
>> I suspect rain (and the frequently attendant high wings up here in
>>the Maritimes) does cause mortality in odonates - perhaps leaving
>>them vulnerable to birds and other warm-blooded predators, or perhaps
>>just weakening them by preventing them from feeding for extended
>>periods.
>> A related issue is that only two species I am familiar with in
>>Acadia actually continue their activities in rain, at least light to
>>moderate rain without heavy winds.
>> Aeshna eremita seems indifferent to light to moderate rain -
>>continuing feeding and ovipositing.
>> Basiaeshna janata males continue to forage and to look for females -
>>I have seen a male frantically moving from one raindrop ripple to the
>>next on a lake surface - presumably interpreting each as a possible
>>laying female
>> Cordially,
>> Paul
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
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