<< Previous Next >>

Capturing of a female in-flight:)


Capturing of a female in-flight:)
Photo Information
Copyright: Bayram Gocmen (boreocypriensis) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 957 W: 3 N: 3028] (10472)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-11-06
Categories: Nature
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Exposure: f/7.1, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Arthropods from the Middle East [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-11-08 0:39
Viewed: 344
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sympetrum fonscolombii (Red-veined Darter) [Capturing a female by a male:)- iso 320]

The male's gaudy appearance and active behaviour is quite different from its more restful and subdued congeners. A strong migrant, erratic influxes are seen in northern Europe in early summer, when other Sympetrum are only beginning to emerge.

The wingtips of this species have small yellow-coloured pterostigma, edged with black, which distinguish it from the Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum). S. fonscolombii belongs to the family Libellulidae, whose members are strong fliers often perching on exposed reeds from where they dart out to snatch prey. Adult red-veined darters are red (males) or yellow (females), showing beautiful saturated colours. Young animals may be greenish, with black stripes on the thorax and abdomen, while the definitive colours are not fully developed. Total body length is 33-40mm and the Abdomen length 22-29mm, Often confused with the Scarlet Darter (Crocothemis erythraea) because of the blue underside to eyes, yellow hindwing base, red coloration and active behaviour. However, that species is much broader-bodied and has no black on the face or legs. The female can be deceptively close to that of the Yellow-winged Darter (S. flaveolum), but the eye colour and vulvar scale –(a structure below 8th abdomen segment in females, along which the eggs leave the body, present in those species that do not oviposit into plant tissue)- are distinctive. Vulvar scale appressed, with broad U-shaped incision. The extent of hindwing patch is variable. Legs rarely all-black.

It ranges widely in warm parts of Africa and Asia. Resident and often common in the Mediterranean, but rare and irregular in the north. This strong migrant has been observed at sea and is the only libellulid on the Azores (Portuguese islands chain in the Atlantic Ocean). It prefers the warm, still waters, often open, bare and shallow, such as quarry lakes, sand pits, newly created ponds and coastal lagoons. Its life cycle is unlike other Sympetrum species, because the eggs develop rapidly after being laid, without a winter rest. It is observed throughout the year in the Mediterranean, though scarce from December to February.

A Note On Mating and Breeding Behaviours of D-flies:
In breeding period, the first step is the capture of a female by a male. Males typically grab females by the thorax in flight with their legs, then shift them around so the male's terminal abdominal appendages are holding the female by the head in dragonflies or behind the head (the prothorax) in damselflies. Both insects are facing the same direction, the female behind and below the male. The pair, said to be "in tandem", will continue to fly this way until actual fertilization takes place. Many species will fly to a perch for the next step, and others will continue in flight.
In order to transfer the sperm from the male to the female, whether perched or in flight, the female will curl the tip of her abdomen up to meet the accessory genitalia of the male. The pair is now in “wheel position, and females often reach up with their legs to grasp the male's abdomen. In the more flexible damselflies, the wheel position may be likened to the shape of a heart.
After several mating sessions many males bear marks on their abdomen near segment 7, where the females have been holding on. Several important steps are now taken. Using a set of paddlelike structures unique to odonates and some spiders, the male literally "scoops" away sperm left over from previous matings by this female. After that, the male deposits his sperm into the female. This process can take from just a minute or so up to an hour or more in some species. In perched species, observers can see visible pumping as this process is concluded. The female receives enough sperm in anyone mating session to fertilize all her eggs during her adult life, but if she gets captured by another male the whole process will occur again. During both the tandem and wheel positions other males often try to snare the female for their own breeding attempt.

References:

1. Chinery, M. (1986). Collins Guide to the Insects of Britain and Western Europe, Collins, Glasgow, 320 pp.
2. Dijkstra K.-D. (2006). Field Guide to the Dragonflies of Britain and Europe including Western Turkey and noth-Western Africa. British Wildlife Publishing, Dorset, UK. 320 pp.
3. Beaton, G. (2007). Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Soustheast. University of Georgia Press, Athens, Georgia, 355 pp.

*****************************

Hoping you can like this shot!

TFL!
Cheers,

Bayram
.
boomcat, tsesler, Fortuna, TheMystic, zulfu, neusser0204, milas, cunejo200, norenastramus has marked this note useful
Only registered TrekLens members may rate photo notes.
Add Critique [Critiquing Guidelines] 
Only registered TrekLens members may write critiques.
Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To Silvio2006: :)boreocypriensis 2 11-08 13:01
To milas: Selamboreocypriensis 1 11-08 06:28
You must be logged in to start a discussion.

Critiques [Translate]

Bayram Hocam günaydın
Harika bir makro daha
Helikoptere benziyorlar
İyi hafta sonları
Burak

Merhaba Bayram, fantastic capture of dragonfly in splendid flying action, great macro with wonderful timing and great focus, very well done, ciao Silvio

Hello Bayram,
The exposure setting chosen is effective in showing the darter in flight. The swirl from its flight motion is attractive, and I am glad you chose to show the ecological niche of the darter. I am guessing that you probably got wet and soiled in chasing this beauty. My compliments...Danilo

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2838 W: 395 N: 3052] (33777)
  • [2008-11-08 5:52]
  • [+]

Merhaba Bayram bey...
Güzel bir konpozisyon ve macro, eline sağlık..
Açıklayıcı notun bizi olmasada yabancı arkadaşlara güzel bir ansiklopedik bilgi içeriyor...selamlar...

  • Great 
  • hama Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 183 W: 0 N: 75] (1448)
  • [2008-11-08 6:35]

Hi Bayram,
A wonderful idea. nicely composed and cleverly exposed with good detail and the motion of the wings.

Well done

Sarwar

Hello Bayram,
Amazing capture. Great quality and moment plus very good note.Greets from Germany.
Siggi

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2004 W: 305 N: 3084] (26726)
  • [2008-11-08 6:47]

Well done, great capture Bayram, lots of action and good technique. Great job, thanks!

Mario

Hi Bayram.

Interesting shot. Almost alive! It is a good timing indeed. Good work.

Greetings,
David

Merhaba Bayram bey,
Kanat hareketlerinin çok çarpıcı görüntülenmesi
ustaca. Kutlarım...İkiliyi çok güzel anında
yakalamışsınız. Bravo!. Selam,sevgiler...
Dr.Seyfettin Güner

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 150 W: 0 N: 7] (44)
  • [2008-11-08 12:34]

Selam Bayram hocam, uçar halde erkeğin dişiyi abdomen ucuyla yakalmasını gösteren müthiş bilimsel bir belge. Detaylar harika. Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Merhaba Bayram Hocam,
Aksiyonu mükemmel yakalamış ve yansıtmışsınız.Tebrikler,

hAyAti

Merhaba Bayram,
that's not an easy shot, I like the result.
An impressive moment to see them together in flight laying the eggs into the water.
I also saw this several times and I'm glad you captured it so well, thanks
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Great note and very good capture, getting the 'buzz' of the wings (almost audibly).
Cheers
Otto

Merhaba Bayram,

I think it is very difficult to make a photo like this. You need a lot habikidade (and a bit of luck too:)).
Congratulations for the excellent job!
Selamlar
Sergio

Merhaba Bayram Bey,hareket halinde güzel yakalanmış bir kare.Milas'a yaptığınız açıklamayı okuyunca çok daha güzel oldu.Sizin sayenizde dünyalarına misafir olmuş oluyoruz,teşekkürler :)

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2033 W: 143 N: 1864] (24383)
  • [2008-11-09 12:56]

Merhaba Bayram bey,
mükemmel ışık,mükemmel macro,mükemmel zamanlama.TEbrik ve teşekkürler.Necla.

Merhabalar Bayram Bey,
mükemmel bir zamanlama ve full of action bir kare olmuş;)
ellerinize ve emeğinize sağlık,
selamlar,
Taner

breathtaking details and sharpness
fantastic my friend
ciao
anna

hello Bayram,

even after your explanation i still don't know the different of the male and female if i see it for myself..

its a beautiful shot in flight.. as well you presented good one.. good job.. tfs..

regards, terry

Merhaba bayram
hareketli harika bir makro ve doğal renk
tonları.Ellerine saglık
Selamlar
H.Ayhan

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 625 W: 0 N: 1014] (4848)
  • [2009-01-29 4:08]

Merhaba Bayram,
the still water renders a good background for this inflight darters. The spinning wings splashed as fast and swift movement.
Well shown and I belief it is stationary.

regards,
Foozi

Calibration Check
















0123456789ABCDEF