Zwei Flugtypen bei Paarungsrädern von Libellen

Three photographs of copulating Sympetrum danae (Sulzer) in flight are presented and described. Comparing them with earlier published evidence the author postulates two flight types, viz. (1) the d abdomen is quite straight, the 9 thorax, therefore, orientated in a right angle to the flight direction; the female remains passive and is carried by the male; (2) the d abdomen is bent upward, the 9 thorax thus parallel to the flight direction; both d and 9 participate actively in flight.