[Odonata-l] mystery egg masses

[Kathy &/or Dave Biggs]

Dave took that photo and we recall seeing her come several times to this 
spot to lay eggs, well, her and/or others just like her.
There were other egg masses nearby but this one was actively being added 
to while we were there and also the best area for a photo because of the 
lighting.
She just let loose the egg-ball as she flew by, low to the water, and it 
unfurled behind her, attaching itself to the vegetation as it began to sink.

We're so pleased to be of help!

I see your new Western Dragonflies book advertised already in a few 
spots Dennis. Would love to sell it and my new revised CA Guide when 
they become available this Spring. Who do I contact?

Cheers!!
Kathy

-- 
California Dragonflies	       http://www.sonic.net/dragonfly
Southwest Dragonflies	       http://southwestdragonflies.net/
Bigsnest Wildlife Pond	       http://www.bigsnestpond.net/
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Kathy and Dave Biggs	       bigsnest at sonic.net      707-823-2911
308 Bloomfield Rd.             Sebastopol, CA  95472 
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dba Azalea Creek Publishing    azalea at sonic.net   fax: 707-823-2911
http://www.sonic.net/~bigsnest/azaleacreekpublishing/ 
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Dennis Paulson wrote:

> Well, Kathy Biggs came through on this one; thanks! I hadn't seen that 
> online photo, and now anyone who is interested can see these 
> voluminous masses of eggs, presumably laid by more than one female. 
> The photo she references looks very much like the egg strings that 
> Judy Semroc photographed, and perhaps all /Epitheca/ egg masses look 
> much like this. Talk about putting all your eggs in one basket and the 
> ensuing intensity of larval competition! Perhaps like some amphibian 
> eggs, the mass of jelly (and its chemical components?) protects the 
> eggs at least somewhat from predators that might home in on such a 
> delectable feast.
>
> Dennis
>
>
> On Feb 9, 2009, at 2:32 PM, Kathy &/or Dave Biggs wrote:
>
>> Here's a pix of /Epitheca canis /egg mass we watched being laid.
>> http://southwestdragonflies.net/caphotos/basketaileggstring.jpg
>> Kathy Biggs
>>
>> Dennis Paulson wrote:
>>
>>> Hello, all.
>>>
>>> Has anyone out there photographed or seen clearly the egg strings of 
>>> any species of /Epitheca/ (including /Epicordulia/ and 
>>> /Tetragoneuria/)? I have often seen the females ovipositing, but in 
>>> water too deep for me to go look at the eggs. Judy Semroc, a 
>>> colleague in Ohio, has sent me photos of linear masses of eggs that 
>>> look much like odonate eggs looped around floating plant stems. But 
>>> the masses are up to a couple of inches wide and two feet long, with 
>>> thousands of eggs in them. The eggs are elongate and don't look like 
>>> any amphibian eggs I have ever seen (most North American genera). I 
>>> know female /Epitheca/ sometimes gather at single localities and lay 
>>> many eggs, but this seems a bit much. If you cut across one of these 
>>> "strings," you would hit about 5-10 eggs. I have no idea what else 
>>> they could be, and if anyone else knows, I would much appreciate the 
>>> information. I can send the photos to anyone with special interest 
>>> in this.
>>>
>>> Thanks for any help with this mystery.
>>> -----
>>> Dennis Paulson
>>> 1724 NE 98 St.
>>> Seattle, WA 98115
>>> 206-528-1382
>>> dennispaulson at comcast.net <mailto:dennispaulson at comcast.net>
>>
>
>
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