[Odonata-l] Sympetrum egg leaving female

[MARIE/KEVIN HEMEON]

I saw the dropping of eggs with a Somatochlora tenebrosa. In addition to a last ditch effort to pass on the genes, could it be an escape mechanism? Lighten the load in case an opportunity for escape presents itself? 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Erland R. Nielsen<mailto:erland_refling at stofanet.dk> 
  To: Odonata-l<mailto:odonata-l at listhost.ups.edu> 
  Sent: Tuesday, February 10, 2009 2:29 PM
  Subject: [Odonata-l] Sympetrum egg leaving female


  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<http://home1.stofanet.dk/erland_refling/odo_order_sympetrum_uk.htm>
  Cheers
  Erland R. Nielsen


    ----- Original Message ----- 
    From: Kathy &/or Dave Biggs<mailto:bigsnest at sonic.net> 
    To: Jim Markowich<mailto:jimbonius at earthlink.net> 
    Cc: Ray Bruun at home<mailto:bruun at frontiernet.net> ; Odonata-l<mailto:odonata-l at listhost.ups.edu> 
    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<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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