EGG LAYING 
ACH species of dragonfly has its own way 
of laying its eggs, and what that may be 
can be learned only by observation, but 
there are general habits that are shared 
by groups of species. As already noted 
the gift of an ovipositor enables some to place their eggs in punc- 
tures of plant tissues, while others, lacking it, scatter their eggs 
through the water strewing them over the bottom. In either case the 
male may or may not remain with the female after copulation, assist- 
ing in the placement of the eggs. 

pec re foe 
Wail © 

Fig. 10. Relative positions of male and female during oviposition. 
Above, Celithemis; middle, Tramea; below, Pachydiplax. 
The female oviposits alone in the majority of species that lack an 
ovipositor. This is the rule with the clubtails (Gomphinae). She 
dashes across the stream, sweeping hither and yon, touching the 
surface of the water now and then and releasing at each descent a 
cluster of eggs. Our diagram (fig. 10) illustrates some of the diversity 
of habit that is found among the skimmers (Libellulinae). The female 
blue pirate (Pachydiplax longipennis) is unattended by the male. She 
flies along at a constant level, the length of her abdomen above the 
water, and now and then swings the tip of it down against the surface 
to wash off her eggs. 
25 
