Almost nothing is known of the dark pincertail’s reproductive biology, life history patterns or feeding behaviour. Nevertheless, there are general biological characteristics of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata) that are likely to apply here. Odonata species start their life as aquatic larvae, passing through a series of developmental stages or ‘stadia’, undergoing several moults as they grow. This larval period can last anything between three months and ten years, depending upon the species (6), but is generally 2 to 4 years in West Palearctic clubtails (3). Before the final moult (emergence), metamorphosis begins, during which the larvae transforms into the adult form (6). From a physiological point of view, metamorphosis will end some days after emergence (3). After emergence, adults undergo a pre-reproductive phase known as the maturation period, and this is when individuals normally develop their full adult colour (6). The flight period of the dark pincertail, during which time it must mate, seems to extend from the end of April to the end of July (3). There is often fierce competition between males for access to reproductive females, and females typically begin to lay eggs in water immediately after copulation, often guarded by their mate. However, females of some species can store live sperm in their body for a number of days (6).
Odonata usually feed on flying insects, but are generalised, opportunistic feeders, and will often congregate around abundant prey sources such as swarms of other small insects, and sometimes also near beehives (6).