As many women will know, getting unwanted attention from males can be highly irritating and frustrating, particularly if they refuse to give up. Many women find it extremely difficult to escape the clutches of interested males – but few would go to the lengths that female dragonflies go to. According to research, female dragonflies actually fake their own death in a bid to get rid of males who are interested in having their wicked way with them!

It seems that female dragonflies will go to extraordinary lengths to keep males at bay, and this usually happens after they have mated with one male of the species and want to go somewhere safe to lay their fertilized eggs. According to research, some female dragonflies will simply fall from the sky when they are being hounded by frisky males, and they will then lay there pretending to be dead.

Why They Do This

So, why do female dragonflies go to such lengths to keep males at arms-length after they have mated with a male? Well, experts believe that there are various reasons behind this. One of the key ones is that the number of eggs the females lay is limited, and if they are engaged in coupling repeatedly it could cause damage to the reproductive organs. It is no wonder, therefore, that these insects are so keen to avoid the sexual advances of other males after mating.

Another reason, as mentioned earlier, is that the female dragonfly is eager to find somewhere safe where she can lay her fertilized eggs. Naturally, she is not going to want to fight her way through swarms of males, who are now even more eager to attract her, so she clearly thinks the best option is to let the persistent males think she has expired. By doing this, the female dragonfly can better protect her eggs, as well as her reproductive organs and her dignity!

Plummeting to the Ground

When a male and female of the dragonfly species mate, it is actually quite an artistic act that takes place in the air. However, it is completed on the ground, and once it is finished, the female will immediately take flight to head off and lay her eggs. However, the fact that she has just mated will attract other males all the more, so this poses a serious problem for the female. Researchers have noted that many will avoid taking the risk of this male attention by simply plummeting to the ground and lying perfectly still.

This is certainly a novel way for the female of any species to avoid the advancements of males. However, for the dragonfly, it is all about protecting herself and her eggs from the males.