Development of Ischnura verticalis (Coenagrionidae: Odonata): Effects of Temperature and Prey Abundance

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Abstract
Increased food availability increased rate of development within an instar, head width ratio (ratio of headwidth of later instar over head width in previous instar), and weght per unit head width of newly molted larval Ischnura verticalis (Say) (Coenagrionidae: Odonata) reared in the laboratory. Temperature affected rate of development but not weight per unit head width or head width ratio. Mortality was not affected by an treatment. Rate of development was negatively correlated with both weight per unti head width and head width ratio. Results that the development process has evolved to reduce risks associated with small size at the expense of a more rapid development.