Competition for Territorial Sites and Alternative Mating Tactics in the Dragonfly, Nannophya Pygmaea Rambur (Odonata: Libellulidae)

Abstract

1. Male Nannophya pygmaea defend small territories on or near small bodies of water. Sexually receptive females arrive at these sites to oviposit, and are usually intercepted by these territorial males. 2. Not all males are territorial however, some try to 'sneak' copulations with females attracted to established territories. 3. Males are both residents and at some stage of their life. 4. Number of increase at an accelerating rate with male density at the reproductive area. 5. Some territorial sites are occupied more consistently than others, and there is considerable turnover in territory ownership at some sites during the course of the reproductive season. 6. Some changes in ownership occur because an intruder defeats the resident in an aerial contest. 7. Highly contended territorial sites attract more females than others, and daily mating frequency is highest in males occupying these territories. 8. However, sneakers appear to be as successful in gaining copulations as males who occupy less contended territories.