Negative effects of Arrenurus water mites on the flight distances of the damselfly Nehalennia speciosa (Odonata: Coenagrionidae)

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Abstract
Ectoparasitic water mites of the genus Arrenurus which occur on the damselfly Nehalennia speciosa (Charpentier) were used to assess the impact upon distances flown by the dam‐selflies after release. The mite load was found to be independent of the host's sex. Mites were aggregated among the whole Nehalennia population but were randomly distributed within the infested part of the population. The effect of the parasite load on flight distances was independent of body size and ambient temperature.