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We studied how egg size, larval size and egg development time are related to oviposition site selection and mate guarding in a dragonfly assemblage of the Namib desert. Species that oviposited mainly in tandem flight (Pantala flavescens and Sympetrum fonscolombii) spread their eggs over several ponds, which we interpreted as spatial risk spreading. Other species (Orthetrum chrysostigma, Trithemis kirbyi, T annulata and Crocothemis erythraea) performed noncontact guarding and localized their eggs, usually in a single pond, which we interpreted as distinct habitat selection. Because long oviposition durations increase the risk of disruption by rival males, we predicted that in species that localize their eggs to a distinct oviposition habitat the first-laid eggs of a clutch should be the largest, indicating high quality. Species that perform risk spreading should distribute large eggs randomly over all oviposition sites. We tested our hypothesis at artificial ponds using experimental manipulations of oviposition. In O. chrysostigma and T kirbyi, egg size and larval size decreased significantly with order of laying, and the time to hatch was randomly distributed. As predicted, within the clutches of P. flavescens and S. fonscolombii, egg size was randomly distributed over a clutch and we found no trend of decrease in larval size or increase in the time to hatch in relation to order of laying. (C) 2004 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.