Emerald damselfly Lestes sponsa is a common species within the temperate zone, with no special need for protection. The tactic of submerged oviposition is well known from other Odonata species, but has rarely been noticed or described in Lestes sponsa. Our study investigated the tactics of oviposition in this species, and shows that submerged oviposition indeed occurs frequently in Lestes sponsa. We experimentally tested the difference in the roles of males and females during the submerged ovipositional behaviour by combining males/females from submerging populations with males/females from non-submerging populations. We discovered that, whereas submerging males coupling with non-submerging females did not lead to submersion, the opposite combination of pairs submerged. Other patterns of submersions are discussed further in this paper. Our research led to the conclusion that damselflies have the ability to learn and react to different situations in keeping with the learning potential of insects in general.

Department of Biology and Ecology Faculty of Science University of Ostrava 710 00 Ostrava Czech Republic

Faculty of Science Institute of Environmental Technologies University of Ostrava 710 00 Ostrava Czech Republic

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Individual variability in habitat selection by aquatic insects is driven by taxonomy rather than specialisation

Wing wettability gradient in a damselfly Lestes sponsa (Odonata: Lestidae) reflects the submergence behaviour during underwater oviposition