Life for female dragonflies is hard, especially during the mating season, as the males dominate the process in most dragonfly species. 

The colorful male clasps the female's head and forces her to bend her body to reach the front of his abdomen.

Some determined males will see that the eggs are laid immediately after mating, flying in tandem with the females during the egg-laying process, or hovering nearby to drive away other competitors.

At other times, the female lays eggs by herself. The location has to be a quiet place full of water grasses. She can not be found by another male, as the latter will force her to mate. Some females lay eggs by diving under water, but even in that case, some desperate males will try to pull them out.

(All images provided by Wen Yuchuan)

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