Contribution

Sexual Cannibalism in the Damselfly Species Ischnura graellsii (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

Cordero, Adolfo

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Entomologia Generalis Volume 17 Number 1 (1992), p. 17 - 20

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publié: May 1, 1992

DOI: 10.1127/entom.gen/17/1992/17

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ArtNo. ESP146001701006, Prix: 9.90 €

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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.

Mots-clefs

Sexual cannibalism • predation • Odonata: Zygoptera • Ischnura graellsii