Jill Orme has witnessed some extraordinary behaviour whilst observing Common Hawkers at Pole Cottage Pools on the Long Mynd. As the photographs rather grimly show, a female was going about her business ovipositing when a male arrived and attempted to grasp the female’s head presumably to mate. The result however was to pull the females head to the extent that it almost detached. He then apparently flew off leaving her fatally injured though still with her head attached just the wrong way round! Unsurprisingly she didn’t make any more movements though it would be interesting to know if she successfully laid eggs- some insects can do incredible things when injured and I wonder if for a time the egg laying continued? I’ll do my best to make my next post more palatable!
