Odonatol.
3
41-50
:
and
Teritoal
Adv.
July, 1987
reproductive
(Odonat
:
behavior
aequabilis
of
Calopteryx
Calopterygidae) in
Nova Scotia,
K.F.
Canada
²
and T.B.
Conrad ¹
Herman
1 Department of Biology, University 2500
University
of
Department
and
Territorial individuals Canada,
were
from
such as
sequences, and
display”, described
May
29 to
“courtship and
August 13,
threat”, arc”,
catalogued
Calopteryx species
in
the
Acadia
Nova
a small
along
“challenge”,
“reverse
1X0,
behaviours
reproductive
recorded
well
“mounting”,
to
provide
of marked
a
escape”,
the
in
Nova
agonistic
“escort
reproductive
“grasping”
basis
Calopteryx aequabilis
stream
Prominent
1983.
as
University
Scotia
first-order
“chase and
as
Calgary
1N4, Canada
Biology,
WolfVille BOP
of
N.W., Calgary,
Dr.
Alberta, T2N 3
battle”
Say
and
for further
Scotia,
behavioural
flight”, “circular
sequences
“cross
copulation,
ecological
were
studies
of
area.
INTRODUCTION
The elaborate territorial and has been the
America.
behaviour of
of many behavioural studies in
subject
An
teryx species
reproductive
extensive catalogue
already
has
Waage (1973)
received
who
Calopteryx
spp.
Asia and North
of the behaviour patterns of many Calop-
exists.
Calopteryx aequabilis, the northern-most North of the genus,
Europe,
little attention,
with
American
the
representative
exception
compared the mating behaviour of C.
of work
aequabilis
to
by C.
maculata, the principal species of his study. We undertake here to describe and catalogue the territorial and reproductive behaviour of C.
aequabilis
from
a
low
density population
in Nova Scotia.
42
K. F. CONRAD &
T. B. HERMAN
MATERIAL AND
C.
adults
aequabilis
were
heavily vegetated first-order Canard Each
River,
damselfly
damselflies 1983.
stream
was
approximately
demographics
1
over
Scotia
59
14.00 hrs, of the
waterproof
study days
enumeration, adult male
because
the
per
10
was
the study
from
peak m
along
a
small,
through grain fields into the
(45°07’N,
marked with
Behavioural observation
sampled.
13.00 to
Nova
individually
simple
on
with aerial insect nets
stream which flows
County,
marked
were
Based
reached
from
Kings
captured
METHODS
64°29’E) ink.
May 29
density
C.
along the 635
primarily
1).
13,
August
to
of
limited to about was
(Fig.
A total of 678
aequabilis
m
one
section hour
of
daily
concerned with
population.
Fig.
1. Study
area
map. The
water
flows from
west
to east.
OBSERVATIONS
FLIGHT AND
Adult male C. “normal
flight”
appear similar
aequabilis have
and
to
PERCHING POSTURES
a
more
two basic
flight postures,
maneuverable “cross-wing
the corresponding
a
butterfly-like
flight”,
which both
flight postures described for C.
virgo by
BEHAVIOUR OF
(1966). Males
Pajunen
territory (“defended While
respect
to
parallel
to
substrate
(low)
Angular the
high)
or at
2.
—
abdomen,
an
rotated
and
slightly,
were
also
“home perch”
a
number of
in
their
days.
in two basic
wings
the abdomen is
high” perching
The wings
slightly
to
positions
with
The anterior margin of the wings is held roughly
—
is
are
>
and
30°,
posture,
held
at an
roughly parallel
Splayed-wing postures,
wings
a
holds its
angle, usually
“Linear
which
repeatedly
over
43
AEQUABILIS
:
the abdomen,
Fig.
to
or
often
aequabilis
its abdomen
Linear (low
may return
area), C.
perching,
CALOPTERYX
with the
to
most
either
A.
the
abdomen
the
>
30°,
slightly raised,
in
with
respect
substrate.
and the
commonly
to
Woolaver.)
angle, usually to
parallel
the substrate (high) (Fig. 2).
(Drawings by
nearly horizontal,
observed,
held
anterior
the
posterior
wings
parted
recently emerged tenerals
44
K. F. CONRAD
and in the
images
some
sun was
Wing
opened
9 and
only halfway,
on
&
Bick,
preference
in
which
observed,
and
C.
and may be
maculata
accompanied
briefly splays
its
by bobbing
and
wings
1973)
(Waage,
raises its
the wings
especially
duals immediately after brief flights. Wing warning,
1966)
for orientation
to
the water surface often hooked
upward.
1978),
frequently
was
No
or near
10 sharply
(Bick
clapping
B. HERMAN
cool, cloudy days.
on
noted. Males perching
abdominal segments
& T.
as
in
occurs
of the entire
in
in C.
usually
are
indivi-
solitary
virgo (Pajunen,
response
to
intruder
an
The resident male
body.
abdomen between them.
AGGRESSIVE INTERACTIONS
interactions occurred
Aggressive
over
water,
usually
less
than
one
meter
above the surface. Chase
and
escape
Flight
-
is
normal
distance between combatants varies. The
3. “Chase and
of almost any
chase continues until the intruder
aggressive encounter. The “resident” appears
escape"
speed; the
3).
leaves the territory (Fig.
Fig.
and
on
the
right
and has
an
upeurved
abdomen.
Escort 30-35
cm
flight
Circular
physically normal
—
The
resident
flies
beside,
slightly
from the intruder until the intruder reaches the battle
clash
but
(twice
rapid.
other contested if the intruder
this
intense mutual
both combatants fell
The
area
turns
In
—
battle
usually begins
and may follow back
to
a chase
circular
the near
and
toward the resident’s
below and
usually
territory boundary. chase,
males
may
water) (Fig. 4). Flight a
territory boundary
escape
territory.
or
is or
escort flight
BEHAVIOUR OF
Fig.
Reverse an
intruder,
with
little
mately 30
Fig. is
5.
threat
upon
—
re-entering
a
his
“Circular battle"
short-lived
(
