She seemed determined to land on my hand. Every time I moved it, she followed, so eventually I gave in and waited patiently until she decided she was done with me. It took a while!
Female Eastern Pondhawks seem to pick up on the territory first. A floating mat of plants matters because that’s where a male is set up, and where mating and egg-laying can actually happen. So in a way, the female is choosing a defended patch with a male already holding it, not just picking a mate out in the open.
What seems to matter most is the quality of the site, how well the male holds it, and whether the patch is worth guarding. A good little raft of vegetation probably means both a solid male and a good place for eggs.
In short, the floating plant mat is doing more than just floating there. It’s part of the whole mating setup.
📷 Eastern Pondhawk · Érythème des Étangs (Erythemis simplicicollis) | © Claire O'Neill, please credit accordingly.
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