Territorial behaviour in Pseudagrion hageni tropicanum Pinhey (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

Observations were carried out at a stream in the Western Transvaal, Republic of South Africa. 68 males were given unique colour combinations which enabled recognition without recapture. The positions of males were recorded at each visit. Some males occupied the same territory for up to 39 days. They occupied their territories throughout the day excluding conspecific males, but allowed oviposition within the territory by conspecific pairs in tandem. Non-territorial males attempted to displace territorial males. Detailed analyses of territoriality were carried out by noting the type, duration and temporal distribution of 285 flights by 5 adult males. Territorial males spent between 2.7% and 19.8% of their territorial occupation in flight (mean 5.5%). Flight activities consisted of patrolling (18.9% of all flights. 46.7% of total flight time and 4.0 flights/h), shifting flights (40%, 15.1% and 8.4 flights/h), investigatory flights towards movement (34.1%, 27.6% and 3.1 flights/h) and feeding flights (7.0%. 10.6% and 1.5 flights/h). The mean durations of patrolling, shifting, investigatory and feeding flights were 23.0, 3.5, 8.6 and 14.2 s respectively. The flight season was from mid-August 1984 to mid-May 1985.