EARLY-MORNING OVIPOSITION OF DRAGONFLIES WITH LOW-TEMPERATURES FOR MALE-AVOIDANCE (ODONATA, AESHNIDAE, LIBELLULIDAE)

The relationship between oviposition by females [FF] and the beginning of male [M] flight activity, on the one hand, and air temperature [T] and time of day, on the other, was investigated in Northern Germany, in Southern France and in Japan. FF of some Anisoptera species, as FF of Orthetrum cancellatum (Linnaeus 1758) [Libellulidae], Aeshna cyanea (Muller 1764) [Aeshnidae], and A mixta Latreille 1805 [Aeshnidae], av oid further matings by appearing before the MM at oviposition sites, w hen air TT are still low. In contrast, the FF of Anax imperator Leach 1815 [Aeshnidae] are able to defend themselves against MM successfully . FF of the Aeshnidae in S-France and in Japan fly to oviposition with higher air temperatures than the FF of Aeshnidae in N-Germany. In the Zygoptera examined here, there is no such male avoidance strategy inv olving oviposition at lower TT to avoid MM. Here the beginning of ovip osition and male flight activity is determined by the mating system.