Frequency of female colour morphs in populations of four coenagrionid damselflies (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

Knowledge of naturally occurring andromorph and gynomorph frequencies in populations of coenagrionid damselflies is important for understanding the evolution of 2 -limited polymorphism. Here are reported the frequencies of andromorphs and gynomorphs in populations of Coenagrion paella, C. mercuriale, Xanthocnemis zealandica and Ischnura uviatilis and a review is presented of the literature for other coenagrionid spp. It is shown that ratios of andromorphs to gynomorphs are often unequal with andromorphs generally being the uncommon morph. Significant inter- and intra-population variation in morph frequency sometimes occurs but is of low magnitude. No evidence was found for spatial segregation of andromorphs and gynomorphs. Andromorph frequency could not be significantly related with sex ratio or 6 density.