Cover Caption

The carnivorous spread‐winged damselflies (Lestidae) closely interact with plants only during their egg laying activity. The female chooses the long and narrow monocot plants, like Scirpus or Juncus, to insert its eggs into their tissues. Linear patterns of the egg‐clutches are species‐specific and behaviorally stereotyped characteristics among the lestids studied so far. Most likely, these peculiarities evolved in dragonflies when simultaneously or soon after appearance of monocot plant families in Cretaceous or Paleogene. (see pages 893‐902). Photo provided by Natalia Matushkina

Source: Insect Science - November 23, 2016 Category: Biology Tags: CONTENTS Source Type: research