Libellulidae
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The chasers, darters, skimmers, and perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest family of dragonflies.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded (as Silsby does), 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 (or meadowhawks in North America) 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.
EtymologyEdit
The family name may have been derived from the Latin libella which means "booklet".
GeneraEdit
The Libelluidae contain these genera: Template:Columns-list
GalleryEdit
- Ruddy Marsh Skimmer (Crocothemis servilia)- male W IMG 0512.jpg
- Libellula luctuosa male.jpg
- Green Marsh Hawk (Orthetrum sabina) W IMG 1681.jpg
- Platetrum depressum 1 Luc Viatour.JPG
- Darter August 2007-20.jpg
- Sympetrum sanguineum (male).jpg
- Crimson Marsh Glider (Trithemis aurora) - Male.jpg
- Trithemis kirbyi.jpg
- Neurothemis terminata.jpg
- Scarlet Dragonfly.jpg
- Segellibellen-Larve.JPG
Libellulidae nymph
- Dark-winged skimmer (Diastatops pullata) male.JPG
Diastatops pullata, male
- Large woodskimmer (Uracis fastigiata) male.jpg
Uracis fastigiata, male
- Tropical skimmer (Uracis imbuta) male Costa Rica.jpg
Uracis imbuta, male
- Madagascar jungle skimmer (Thermorthemis madagascariensis) male.jpg
Thermorthemis madagascariensis, male
- Madagascar jungle skimmer (Thermorthemis madagascariensis) male 2.jpg
Thermorthemis madagascariensis, male
- Madagascar jungle skimmer (Thermorthemis madagascariensis) immature male.jpg
Thermorthemis madagascariensis, immature male
ReferencesEdit
BibliographyEdit
- Silsby, Jill. 2001. Dragonflies of the World. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington D.C.
External linksEdit
- Libellulidae Dragonflies in Borneo Island
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