Original paper
Sexual Cannibalism in the Damselfly Species Ischnura graellsii (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)
Cordero, Adolfo
Entomologia Generalis Volume 17 Number 1 (1992), p. 17 - 20
3 references
published: May 1, 1992
DOI: 10.1127/entom.gen/17/1992/17
ArtNo. ESP146001701006, Price: 9.90 €
Abstract
Two records of females Ischnura damselflies devouring mature conspecific males have been so far reported. In Ischnura graellsii (Rambur 1842), 6 observations of females devouring mature conspecific males were made in natural populations. Furthermore, in the laboratory, males devoured both mature and young conspecifics females only preyed upon young individuals. All these observations suggest that mature females xsbut not males lack the appropriate response to threat display of conspecifics. This fact could explain the occurrence of sexual cannibalism.
Keywords
Sexual cannibalism • predation • Odonata: Zygoptera • Ischnura graellsii