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The Love Wheel :)


The Love Wheel :)
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: 2008-11-07
Categories: Nature
Camera: Olympus C-5060WZ
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
Photo Version: Original Version
Theme(s): Arthropods from the Middle East [view contributor(s)]
Date Submitted: 2008-11-09 1:03
Viewed: 330
Points: 42
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Sympetrum fonscolombii (Red-veined Darter) [The Love Wheel Position]

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.

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Hoping you can like this shot!

TFL!
Cheers,

Bayram
.
milas, amcolli, tsesler, tanburi, juyona, ayse51, burak28, Fortuna, zulfu, neusser0204, norenastramus, Silvio2006, wishnugaruda, boomcat has marked this note useful
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To alliturnam: teşekkürboreocypriensis 1 11-09 12:21
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Critiques [Translate]

Merhaba Bayram,
again your wonderful dragonflies - in the acrobatic pose of lovers, very well done, thanks, selamlar
Sabine - wishnugaruda

Merhaba Bayram, beautiful couple of lovely dragonfly in splendid action, superb macro with fantastic details and excellent sharpness, very well done my friend, a nice Sunday to you too, ciao Silvio

Merhaba Bayram
Netlik ve renkleriyle çok güzel bir makro,
Hareketli ve akrobatik gösterisiyle harika bir komposizyon.
Ellerine saglık.
selamlar
H.Ayhan

Merhaba Bayram,
Attractive natural event,Clear and crisp macro scene,Very good sharpness and also express beautiful of nature via action of dragonflys,Well composition too.Good work,
Best regards Siegfried

  • Great 
  • zulfu Gold Star Critiquer [C: 150 W: 0 N: 7] (44)
  • [2008-11-09 3:18]

Selam Bayram Hocam, adeta ders veriyorsunuz. Dün havada dişi kavranması ve yumurtlama, bugünde aşk çemberi pozisyonu.
Elinize sağlık.
Mehmet

Merhaba again Bayram,

Another fantastic shot we have here.
Magic moment you have captured very well.
Congratulations again.
TFS
Sergio

Merhaba Bayram Hocam
Çok harika yakalamışsınız
Herhalde böyle bir anı yakalamak için saatlerce uğraşıyorsunuzdur
İyi Pazarlar
Burak

  • Great 
  • EOSF1 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2004 W: 305 N: 3084] (26726)
  • [2008-11-09 6:19]

Another excellent shot Bayram! Great details, good exposure and a very good timing. Well done!

Mario

Merhaba Hocam,
Doğal hayattan belgesel nitelikli bie çalışma.Güzel bie "O An" karesi.Elinize sağlık.
Selamlarımla..

hAyAti

Bayram Bey,senaryonun sonu güzel bitmişe benziyor,açıklamalarla gerçekten daha bir cuk diye oturdu sahne,sizi sabrınızdan dolayıda kutluyorum,ellerinize sağlık,selamlar :)

  • Great 
  • ayse51 Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2033 W: 143 N: 1864] (24383)
  • [2008-11-09 11:50]

Merhaba Bayram bey,
Mükemmel macro,mükemmel detaylar ve açıklama..tebrik ve teşekkürler.Necla.

  • Great 
  • juyona Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 2639 W: 1 N: 1292] (15611)
  • [2008-11-09 11:56]

Hola Bayram,
attractive macro,
realism and fantastic pov,
splendid definition and focus
saludos

Selam Bayram Hoca,
Fantastik...
Netlik, kompozisyon ve zamanlama harika
Selahattin E

hello Bayram
excellent capture , nice pose and great details
congratulations my friend
regards
T

Merhaba Bayranm Bey,
yine harika zamanlama, yine full of action;)
muhteşem fotoğraflarınızla örtüşen açıklamalarla belgesel tadında çalışmalarınız için tekrar teşekkürler,
ellerinize ve emeğinize salık,
selamlar,
Taner

amazing detail and sharpness and thak goodness no reptiles!!!
only kidding you know reptiles (and their human imitations) are not my favouite subjects
thanks for this beautiful shot bayram , have a noce weeek
ciao
anna

Hola Bayram.
Genial encuadre y fabulosa nitidez.
Completísima nota.
Saludos, JL.

  • Great 
  • Saba Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 1105 W: 0 N: 2628] (13430)
  • [2008-11-09 15:09]

Merhaba Bayram!
Fantastic and curious picture.
Magnificent colors and light.
Wonderful effect and photo!
Congratulations.
Greetings.
Barbara

  • Great 
  • milas Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2838 W: 395 N: 3052] (33777)
  • [2008-11-11 6:49]

merhaba Bayram bey...
bu güzel çalışmayı kaçırmışım, harika detay ve macro çalışması....eline sağlık...selamlar

this one is a bit difficult to see with the surrounding exactly the same colours as the two love dragonflies.. excellent eyes and excellent catch of them at it.. stunning composition.. good job, Bayram.. tfs..

regards, terry

  • Great 
  • foozi Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 625 W: 0 N: 1014] (4848)
  • [2009-01-26 15:20]

Merhaba Bayram,
a special capture here. Moment well seen and shown in great clarity.
Lovely nature shot.

Regards,
Foozi

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