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Orthetrum robustum
A blue dragonfly with turquoise eyes.
Seen on bushes by the side of a dirt road running through the edge of Bwindi Impenetrable Forest, SW Uganda.
I am wondering what the little red things are underneath the dragonfly. I saw several dragonflies with them. Are they some sort of parasite? Or part of the dragonfly? Dragonflies are frequently hosts to Ectoparasitic Water Mite larvae that attach themselves to the Dragonfly while it is still an aquatic naiad. The Northwest Dragonflier website maintains that when the naiad molts into a winged adult, the larval Water Mites in the genus Arrenurus crawl from the cast off exuvia onto the still soft body of the winged adult and attach themselves as ectoparasites. They derive both nourishment from this and the advantage of transportation to a new body of water where they can drop off and mature. http://www.whatsthatbug.com/2013/07/21/e...
Pamsai I researched this further and I believe I erred with ID. The Blue Dasher does not appear to be native to your area. I have suggested an alternative with reference. Please see what you think. There are a few that are close but the Robust Skimmer seems clsoest to me! Sorry for the mistake!
thanks James. I have seen a lot od dragonflies with these Ectoparasitic Water Mite larvae attached. Glad they are just hitching a ride!
The red stuff are Ectoparasitic Water Mite larvae that attach themselves to the Dragonfly while it is still an aquatic naiad.
Spotted on Jul 17, 2014
Submitted on Sep 19, 2014
