[Odonata-l] Sympetrum egg leaving female

[Erland R. Nielsen]

Kathy, I've seen lot of females of varies Sympetrum sp. dropping eggs like "mad" while being caught in e.g. spider web. Seen the behaviour too by one other Libellulidae. I've had the same idea as you, namely the use of the slight change of getting offspring.
Here's a picture of another Sympetrum with eggs leaving the female, while in tandem flight.
It's the fifth picture on my "sympetrum-page", the species S. sanguineum. These eggs are not the typical Sympetrum eggs.
http://home1.stofanet.dk/erland_refling/odo_order_sympetrum_uk.htm
Cheers
Erland R. Nielsen


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Kathy &/or Dave Biggs 
  To: Jim Markowich 
  Cc: Ray Bruun at home ; Odonata-l 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 7:34 PM
  Subject: Re: [Odonata-l] mystery egg masses


  A few folks asked if anyone had other Odonata egg photos.
  Here's a link to the Cardinal Meadowhawk, Sympetrum illotum, life cylce that includes eggs:
  http://southwestdragonflies.net/DRAGONFLY_LIFE_CYLCE.html
  That's the only other egg shots we have. This page includes a great shot Ray Bruun took of an in-hand Western Meadowhawk, S. occidentale, laying eggs. 
  I wonder if they do that because they feel they are about to be eaten and the reflex is to at least release the eggs that could possibly fall back into water?
  Cheers!!
  Kathy Biggs
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