What did I just see??...

Hey everyone!
Today was a good day! I had to run some errands this afternoon so I took a moment to stop off at the local lake. It's the same lake that Stanley lives on but this is another entrance on the other side of the lake, so I didn't see Stan today. However, what I did see was this Green Darner Dragonfly(no, I'm not insect smart. I researched it later cuz I wanted to know what I saw!!) Anyhoo, I'm bent over shooting what I think was a damselfly. Yes, I even will bend in half in public for a good shot. Then I hear this rumbling in the reeds. I look thinking it was a frog and there is a huge dragonfly! It was loud and big! I leaned and bent trying to get a good shot. It then kind of hovered up and slowly flew a bit then lit down on a grass closer to me. Yippee! NOW I can get some good shots. What happened next had my mouth literally hang open....I was pretty close trying not to fall into the water when it suddenly flew up fast about 3 feet then I heard a loud 'POP' and then there was TWO!! One took off over the lake with the other one hot on its tail. I just stood there wondering what the heck? Where did that second one come from? All I could think was that I must have interrupted something. When I looked at my photos tonight I enlarged and did what I could to see where the second dragonfly could have been. I finally decided to look up dragonfly mating. And, when they mate they form a circle, some photos I saw they looked like a heart. Kind of cool. But, that is not what I saw. I saw ONE dragonfly morph into TWO in front of my eyes. After more researching what I think I saw was this....

SPERM COMPETITION!!

...Female dragonflies operate by the "last in, first out" rule of fertilization. If given the opportunity, she might mate with multiple partners, but the sperm from her final sexual partner will fertilize her eggs, in most cases. Male dragonflies, therefore, have an incentive to make sure their sperm is the last to be deposited in her.

A male dragonfly can increase his chances of fatherhood by destroying the sperm of his competitors, and he's well equipped to do so when he mates. Some dragonflies have backwards-facing hooks or barbs on their penises, which they can use to scoop out any sperm they find inside their partner before depositing their own. Other dragonflies use their penises to tamp down or move the offending sperm, pushing it aside before he places his own in the ideal location for fertilization. Still other dragonfly males will dilute any existing sperm they find. In all cases, his goal is to ensure that his sperm supersedes that of any prior partners she has had.

Just to provide an added measure of security for his sperm, the male dragonfly will often guard the female until she oviposits her eggs. He tries to prevent her from mating with any other males, so his sperm is assured the "last in" position that will make him a father. Male damselflies will often continue to grasp their partners with their cerci, refusing to let go until she oviposits. He'll even endure a dunking in the pond if she submerges to place her eggs. Many dragonflies prefer to guard their partners by simply chasing off any approaching males, even engaging in wing-to-wing combat if necessary.

What I saw must have been the female on top of the water and the male must have been submerged underneath the water, which is why I didn't see him until they flew up and separated. What fascinating creatures!!
(see 5 more dragonfly photos starting here)

So, there is your science lesson for today class
There will be a quiz on Friday

(we had a super day at the store!!)

Happy Monday
smile