Postcopulatory guarding behaviour in a territorial damselfly, Pseudagrion p. pilidorsum (Brauer), for submerged ovipositing females (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

The postcopulatory mate guarding behaviours by territorial and non-territorial 3 3 for submerged ovipositing $ 9 were investigated in the field. After copulations, 9 9 in tandem began to oviposit at the water surface and thereafter they usually submerged completely underwater. The 9 often repeated the submergence and emergence at several oviposition sites. When the 9 submerged completely, the 3 released her without submergence and rested above the water surface during oviposition (non-submerged guarding), or the 3 submerged completely and remained in tandem, whether only at first or for the duration of the oviposition (submerged guarding). Territorial 3 3 always performed non-submerged guarding when the 9 oviposited inside their territories. The non-submerged guarding inside the territory might allow the territorial 3 both to guard the ovipositing 9 and to maintain his territory. On the other hand, when the 9 oviposited inside another 3’s territories, territorial and non-territorial 3 3 exhibited both non-submerged guarding and submerged guarding. Thus, P. p. pilidorsum 6 6 may adopt either submerged guarding or non-submerged guarding in response to change in the probability of a takeover of the emerged 9 by rival 3 3 inside another 3’s territory.