Blue-tailed damselflies (Ischnura elegans) mating on a plant stem. During mating the male damselfly grasps the female's head to pull her into the whee

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Blue-tailed damselflies (Ischnura elegans) mating on a plant stem. During mating the male damselfly grasps the female's head to pull her into the wheel position in order to copulate. Once mated, these damselflies will remain in tandem. This prevents other males from mating with the female and provides her with some protection against predation and drowning. Here the female has the colouration usually only seen in the male, known as an andromorphy.

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Size: 3508px × 5196px
Photo credit: © ADRIAN BICKER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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