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Summary: Journal
of
Insect
Science
insectscience.org
Cordero, A. and Andrés JA. 2002. Male coercion and convenience polyandry in a calopterygid damselfly.
7pp. Journal of Insect Science, 2:14, Available online: insectscience.org/2.14
Male coercion and convenience polyandry in a calopterygid damselfly
A. Cordero Rivera1
and J.A. Andrés1
1
Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Universidade de Vigo, EUET Forestal, Campus Universitario, 36005 Pontevedra,
Spain.
acordero@uvigo.es
Received 13 May 2002, Accepted 20 July 2002, Published 7 August 2002
Abstract
Copulation in odonates requires female cooperation because females must raise their abdomen to allow intromission. Nevertheless in
Calopteryx haemorrhoidalis haemorrhoidalis (Odonata) males commonly grasp ovipositing females and apparently force copulations.
This has been interpreted as a consequence of extreme population density and male-male competition. We studied this behavior at two
sites on a river that had different densities over three years. As predicted, at high densities most matings were forced (i.e. not preceded by
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