Abstract Oviposition site selection is a crucial behavioural decision that influences offspring survival. In the giant water bug Kirkaldyia deyrolli , females lay eggs on emergent substrates and males subsequently guard and water the egg masses. Although paternal care provides protection against infanticidal females and terrestrial predators, the extent to which water bug females adjust oviposition behaviour in response to environmental risks remains unclear. We combined field observations, laboratory choice experiments and semi‐outdoor manipulations to affect oviposition site selection in K. deyrolli . Females avoided bright, sun‐exposed surfaces and substrates connected to the shoreline, instead preferring shaded sites that reduced exposure to direct sunlight. Experimental egg masses placed in full sun exhibited significantly lower hatchability than those in shaded conditions, demonstrating strong desiccation sensitivity. Our findings indicate that oviposition site selection in K. deyrolli is shaped primarily by desiccation risk, highlighting how environmental constraints interact with paternal care to shape reproductive strategies in aquatic insects.
Ohba et al. (Sun,) studied this question.
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