Characteristics of dispersing Ischnura elegans and Coenagrion puella (Odonata): age, sex, size, morph and ectoparasitism

Abstract

In this study we assessed whether individuals of the damselfly species Ischnura elegans and Coenagrion puella that moved between ponds differed in their mean characteristics from individuals that did not move. Overall, the sex (female) and species (C. puella) that spent the most time away from the breeding site was more likely to move between ponds. Ischnura elegans males that dispersed had significantly longer forewings than males that did not, while male C. puella parasitised by water mites were more likely to disperse than unparasitised males. There was no evidence for differences in dispersal rates among the female colour forms of either I. elegans or C. puella. In general, the differences in dispersal characteristics between sexes and species could be explained by underlying variation in activity and mobility. The majority of dispersal between breeding sites by C. puella and I. elegans did not appear to be directed, but probably arose from chance movements occasionally taking individuals to a different pond from which they emerged.

Early recolonization of a dredged lowland river by dragonflies (Insecta: Odonata)

“…For example, in the species Sympetrum depressiusculum, which is dominant in the fish ponds in Dzwonowo, over one-third of the population was found to have ranged over distances more than 0.5 km from their native water body (Dolny et al, 2014). In the present study, the distance between the Krąpiel and neighbouring fish ponds was 15-20 m, which was within the lower range of dispersal of adult Zygoptera, even during the reproductive period (Conrad et al, 2002).…”

Integrating across Life‐History Stages: Consequences of Natal Habitat Effects on Dispersal

“…In odonates, the mass of the thoracic musculature is a strong predictor of power output (Schilder and Marden 2004), suggesting that aspects of body size may have a direct functional role in dispersal ability in this group and in other winged insects where the thorax houses the musculature that powers flight. Intraspecific comparisons of body size and dispersal rate in odonates have found a positive relationship between size and dispersal (Anholt 1990;Michiels and Dhondt 1991;Conrad et al 2002). Anholt's study is of particular interest because he exper imentally manipulated the larval environment of a dam selfly (Enallagma boreale) and then evaluated the conse quences of developmental environment on both body size at metamorphosis and dispersal probability.…”

Larval aquatic and terrestrial mites infesting parthenogenetic Ischnura hastata (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) from the Azores islands

“…For instance, Andrés and Cordero (1998) found that 98% of teneral individuals in a population of the damselfly Ceriagrion tenellum (Villers, 1789) were parasitized and the average load was 55 mites per individual. Ectoparasitic mites are known to negatively affect host population dynamics, through reductions in survivorship (Robinson 1983;Braune and Rolff 2001), mating success (Andrés and Cordero 1998), and alteration of host's activity patterns such as dispersal (Reindhart 1996;Conrad et al 2002). Thus, they constitute important selective forces for odonates.…”