Embryonic development, larval growth and life cycle of Coenagrion puella (Odonata: Zygoptera) from an Austrian pond

Abstract

1. Newly-laid eggs of Coenagrion puella (L.) from a pond near Herzogenburg (Lower Austria) were kept at constant water temperatures (range C.3.5X to c.28°C) in the laboratory. Hatching success varied with temperature; no eggs hatched below IT'C and nearly all hatched at c.l6°C. Hatching time decreased with increasing temperature and the relationship between the two variables within the range 12-28°C was well described by a power law. The length of the hatching period was less than 12 days. Hatching times estimated from the power-law equations and those obtained in the field experiments were similar. Therefore both the hatching time and the length ofthe hatching period in the field could be estimated from the laboratory data for the range 12-28°C.2. The maximum number of instars from egg to imago was 11; the average body length increment (mm) per moult was proportionately constant at c.26% and Dyar's rule was applicable. The interval between moults decreased with increasing temperature up to the seventh instar and the relationship between the two variables within the range 12-28°C was well described by a power law. The moulting interval for instars 8-11 ranged from 23 to 48 days and was relatively independent of temperature. No moulting occurred at temperatures below 12°C.3. Larval growth was logistic in the laboratory and variations in mean logistic growth rate (range 0-2.5% length day"') were related to mean temperature with no growth at temperatures < 12°C. Larval growth rates in pond experiments were similar to those estimated from laboratory data, and therefore the regression equations obtained from the laboratory experiments are probably applicable to larval growth in the field. 4. Information on the life cycle of C. puella is briefly reviewed and it is concluded that C. puella from the pond near Herzogenburg has an univoltine life cycle.

Lifetime egg production and egg mortality in the damselflyPyrrhosoma nymphula (Sulzer) (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

“…Laboratory studies indicate that egg mortality differs with temperature (Waringer & Humpesch, 1984;Lutz & Rogers, 1991). However, it is unlikely that the large differences in mortality between some batches of P. nymphula eggs can be explained by temperature alone as the diurnal range was similar over the whole experiment.…”

Differentiation in developmental rate across geographic regions: a photoperiod driven latitude compensating mechanism?

“…It is not known, however, whether these species display latitudinal compensatory mechanisms allowing them to maintain this ‘summer’ life cycle across their geographic range. There have been several studies on coenagrionids, including our study species, showing growth responses to different temperatures (Waringer and Humpesch 1984, Krishnaraj and Pritchard 1995, Nilsson‐Örtman et al unpubl.). However, to our knowledge there is no literature describing growth responses of the study species to progressively changing photoperiod that follows a natural day length.…”

Latitudinal patterns of phenology and age‐specific thermal performance across six Coenagrion damselfly species

“…3), the embryonic time lag d was set at 25 days. In reality, embryonic development time in these species is temperaturedependent and follows a power-function (Waringer andHumpesch 1984, van Doorslaer and, but within a realistic range of water temperatures, between 188C and 258C, difference are relatively small, ranging from 20 to 30 days.…”