Libellulidae


The chasers, darters, skimmers, and perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest family of dragonflies. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded, there remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are the most commonly encountered dragonflies.
The genus Libellula is mostly New World but also has one of the few endangered odonates from Japan: Libellula angelina. Many of the members of this genus are brightly colored or have banded wings. The related genus Plathemis includes the whitetails. The genus Celithemis contains several brightly marked species in the southern United States. Members of the genus Sympetrum are called darters and are found throughout most of the world, except Australia. Several tropical species in the genera Trithemis and Zenithoptera are considered to be especially beautiful. Other common genera include Tramea and Pantala.
Libellulids have stout-bodied larvae with the lower lip or labium developed into a mask over the lower part of the face.
The earliest record of the family is the fossil genus †Palaeolibellula Fleck, Nel & Martinez-Delclos, 1999 from the Turonian of Kazakhstan, which appears to represent a stem-member of the family.

Etymology

The family name comes from Latin libella, meaning "a carpenter's level", because of the insect's ability to stay level when hovering.

Genera

The Libelluidae contain these genera:
The following fossil genera are also known:
  • †Caussanelia Nel, Martinez-Delclós, Papier, & Oudard, 1997
  • †Jeanlegrandia Nel, Petrulevicius & Jarzembowski, 2005
  • †Lithemis Fraser, 1951
  • †Miorhodopygia Riou & Nel, 1995
  • †Molertrum Zessin, 2019
  • †Oligocaemia Fraser, 1951
  • †Oryctodiplax Cavallo & Galetti, 1987
  • †Palaeolibellula Fleck, Nel & Martinez-Delclos, 1999
  • †Paleotauriphila Nel & Paicheler, 1993
  • †Palaeotramea Nel & Papazian, 1985
  • †Parabrachydiplax Bechly & Sach, 2002
  • †Protopaltothemis Pongrácz, 1928
  • †Prorhyothemis Prokop, Fleck & Nel, 2003
  • †Pisaurum Gentilini, 1988
  • †Randecktrum Zessin, 2019
  • †Sloveniatrum Zessin, Zalohar & Hitij, 2008
  • †Trameobasileus Zeuner, 1938