Reproductive behaviour and courtship in Hemiphlebia mirabilis

The Ancient Greenling (H. mirabilis) is the oldest extant damselfly, dating back probably to the Permian. It is a living fossil, whose distribution is restricted to the South of Australia and Tasmania. It is also unique from the ethological point of view, with the most elaborate courtship of any non-territorial damselfly.

[@evettahudson6895]

Why the girl not movin

[@acorderorivera]

Well, we can interpret the behaviour of the female, but never be sure of her real motivation, of course. She apparently shows her availability to mate by remaining motionless. Otherwise she would move and clearly show rejection. And the pair would separate.

[@evettahudson6895]

My other question why his but on her neck

[@acorderorivera]

Dragonflies and damselflies are quite inusual because the genital organs of the male are at the second abdominal segment, while all other insects have their genitals at the end of the abdomen. To copulate males have to take the female by her neck. This allows mating. We do not know how this weird system evolved!

[@evettahudson6895]

Poor female