ON THE PROBLEM OF MUTUAL RECOGNITION - IS THERE TAXONOMIC SPECIFICS OF MOVEMENTS AND POSTURES DURING CONTACTS BETWEEN DRAGONFLY LARVAE

Original and published data on behavior of isoptere dragonflies during conspecific contacts are analyzed. Movements and postures in 7 species of three families (Lestidae, Coenagrionidae, Calopterygidae) are described and their taxonomic specifity is evaluated. Movements and postures common to all species studied are revealed, as well as those which are specific to particular taxa of various ranks. Similarity of some movements is shown to reflect phylogenetic relations between taxa in some cases. Relatively low tempo of discrete movements, which is common to all species studied, forms a basis for differentiating of dragonfly larvae from other invertebrates which they feed upon. The latters, unlike dragonfly larvae, display prolonged high-frequency movements. However, the data at hands are not sufficient to validate hypothesis according to which specific postures and movements constitute a mechanism preventing cannibalism in dragonfly larvae. Comparing the behavior in question in two closely related sympatric species Calopteryx virgo and C. splendens does not reveal any species specifity. Experiments show, however, larvae of the two species display different behavior in cases of conspecific and heterospecific contacts. One may suppose the postures and movements under consideration do not exhaust the entire mechanism of recognition of counterpartners.