Damselflies submerge to lay their eggs in Lake Mangawhio, Taranaki.
Mary took this picture when she was part of a diving team surveying submerged vegetation in remote Lake Mangawhio for Taranaki Regional Council.
“I was in the shallows taking photos of the alien aquatic weed Lagarosiphon major when I saw these glittery insects laying their eggs on the plant’s stems, about 40cm deep. They appear silver because of tiny bubbles trapped on their wings and bodies but they are actually red in colour when not submerged in water,” said Mary.