Ectoparasitic water mite larvae of the genus Arrenurus on the damselfly Coenagrion puella (Linnaeus) (Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae)

Parasitic larval mites of the genus Arrenurus have been found on C. puella. A. bicuspidator, A. cuspidator and A. maculator make up over 80% of the total mites identified. The other spp. found were A. bruzelii, A. claviger and members of the A. affinis complex. Mites are found mainly between the second and third pairs of legs and behind the third pair. A. bicuspidator and A. cuspidator share these sites with numbers spread roughly equally on both sites. A. maculalor is found almost exclusively behind the third pair of legs and on the first abdominal segment of the host. Smaller numbers are found on the abdominal segments where A. claviger is the dominant species. The larval mites show a preference for $ hosts. Size differences between the Arrenurus spp. are considered.