Mechanical properties of the endophytic ovipositor in damselflies (Zygoptera, Odonata) and their oviposition substrates

Damselfly females use their ovipositor valves to saw aquatic plants in order to insert their eggs into the plant tissues. Stiffness of the plant substrata is therefore an important parameter for oviposition substrate choice by females. Using a force transducer combined with a motorised micromanipulator, the bending stiffness of the ovipositor at the axial compressional load was studied in seven European damselfly species and compared to the local stiffness of seven preferred plant substrates. The puncture force of tested plant samples ranged from 105 to 1500 mN, and their local stiffness ranged from 208 to1776 N/m. The bending stiffness of the ovipositor was estimated as 173–409 N/m depending on the damselfly species. Using original and literature data, a significant positive correlation between mechanical properties of the ovipositor and preferred oviposition substrates was demonstrated. Possible behavioural adaptations to overcome high stiffness of plant tissues during oviposition are discussed.