Time of colour change in female Ischnura pumilio (Charpentier) (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

Freshly emerged females were marked individually and put into an outdoor cage. By following the individual change of weight and width of abdomen it could be shown that the time of colour change is connected with maturation. The tested females were divided into 2 groups with different food supplies. The transformation of colour took less time in well-fed individuals than in less well-fed ones. In both groups the time for colour transformation was negatively correlated with the date of emergence and the sum of the daily maximum temperatures during the first six days of life.