Territorial behaviour of male Nannothemis bella (Uhler) (Anisoptera: Libellulidae)

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Abstract
Male Nannothemis bella (Uhler) dragonflies are territorial at the breeding site. On the basis of the male behavioural time budgets, the species can be regarded as a territorial percher. Those acts involved in territorial maintenance (patrolling and fighting) are more closely related to territorial dimensions than are those not concerned with the territory (feeding). Territoriality appears closely related to some aspect of the water area within a territory, as maintenance and defence behaviour vary most consistently with the size of this area. Territorial size increases as the season progresses. Defensive behaviour is directed at both conspecifics and a heterospecific, Leucorrhinia frigida. The usefulness of a marking technique for dragonflies was tested statistically.