Eur. J. Entomol. 116: 269-280, 2019 | DOI: 10.14411/eje.2019.031

Biometry of the large dragonfly Anax imperator (Odonata: Aeshnidae): A study of traits from larval development to adultsOriginal article

Marceau MINOT1, Mickaël LE GALL2, Aurélie HUSTÉ1
1 Université de Rouen - ECODIV, Bat Blondel, Place Emile Blondel, Mont-Saint-Aignan 76821, France; e-mails: marceau.minot1@univ-rouen.fr, aurelie.huste@univ-rouen.fr
2 IRSTEA, UR RIVERLY, Centre de Lyon - Villeurbanne, 69625 Villeurbanne Cedex, France; e-mail: mickael.legall1@gmail.com

Insect larval development affects adult traits but the biometric relationships are usually poorly understood, including large odonates. In this study, measurements of morphological traits of larvae, exuviae and adults of Anax imperator were recorded. They were used to investigate the effects of early development on adult morphology. Results showed an increase in larval length during the final instar and the length of its exuviae significantly exceeded that of the larva. Length and body mass of teneral adults were strongly related to the length of their exuviae. Adult males were significantly longer than adult females, while both had the same body mass at emergence. Length of teneral adults was negatively related to the date of emergence in both sexes. During maturation, body mass of males only increased slightly whereas that of females increased greatly. Mature specimens were also significantly longer than teneral individuals. Body mass of mature males and length of mature females were both associated with the date of capture. Wing length did not differ between sexes or from data available from Great Britain. This study underscores the importance of taking into account larval growth in order to better understand the adult traits of odonates.

Keywords: Odonata, Aeshnidae, Anax imperator, body length, body mass, larval rearing, sexual size dimorphism, traits

Received: November 29, 2018; Revised: July 19, 2019; Accepted: July 19, 2019; Published online: September 10, 2019  Show citation

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MINOT, M., LE GALL, M., & HUSTÉ, A. (2019). Biometry of the large dragonfly Anax imperator (Odonata: Aeshnidae): A study of traits from larval development to adults. EJE, 116, Article 269-280. https://doi.org/10.14411/eje.2019.031
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