Reproductive success and survivorship of damselfly Enallagma hageni infected with ectoparasite Arrenurus.

Abstract

The reproductive success and survivorship of adult male damselflies Enallagma hageni infected with ectoparasitic larval water mite Arrenurus spp. was examined. Parasitic prevalence/incidence of non-mating vs. mating males was analyzed to determine reproductive success. Body mass of parasite vs. non-parasite infected males was analyzed to determine survivorship. It was discovered that parasites are more prevalent and incident on non-mating vs. mating males. The presence of parasites on male damselflies can significantly depress their mating success. The average body weight of male damselflies with parasites was significantly lower than that of males without parasites only if infected males had high levels of parasites. Thus, parasitic water mites significantly change the survivorship of male damselflies only at high parasite levels. Reproductive success of E. hageni is more sensitive to water mite Arrenurus than survivorship.