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Ectoparasites do not affect ejaculate volume in the dragonfly Coenagrion puella
Author(s) -
Rolff Jens,
Braune Pia,
SivaJothy Michael T.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
physiological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 57
eISSN - 1365-3032
pISSN - 0307-6962
DOI - 10.1046/j.0307-6962.2001.00251.x
Subject(s) - biology , odonata , parasitism , dragonfly , sperm , parasite hosting , mite , zoology , ecology , affect (linguistics) , host (biology) , larva , botany , world wide web , computer science , linguistics , philosophy
. Imagoes of the dragonfly Coenagrion puella are parasitized frequently by ectoparasitic water mites. In an experimental study of the parasite load we examined the influence of parasite burden on host sperm volume. Infection with ectoparasitic water mites did not affect sperm volume in the seminal vesicle (ejaculate volume). It is concluded that water mite parasitism does not affect male fitness in C. puella by reducing sperm production.