Gomphidae

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Gomphidae
Temporal range: Cenomanian–Recent
Bladetail (Lindenia tetraphylla) male Macedonia.jpg
Bladetail, male, Lindenia tetraphylla
North Macedonia
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Family: Gomphidae
Rambur, 1842 [1]
Genera

See text

The Gomphidae are a family of dragonflies commonly referred to as clubtails or club-tailed dragonflies. The family contains about 90 genera and 900 species found across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa. [2] The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen (abdominal segments 7 through 9). However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.

Contents

Etymology

The name may be derived from Latin gomphus or gond meaning "hinge".

Characteristics

Clubtails have small, widely separated compound eyes, a trait they share with the Petaluridae and with damselflies. The eyes are blue, turquoise, or green. The thorax in most species is pale with dark stripes, and the pattern of the stripes is often diagnostic. They lack the bright metallic colors of many dragonfly groups and are mostly cryptically colored to avoid detection and little difference between the sexes is seen. [3] Adults are usually from 40 to 70 mm (1.6 to 2.8 in) in length; there are 6 specific variations that are native to Africa alone, and vary from 33 to 40 mm (1.3 to 1.6 in) in length; there are also 97 varieties specific to North America as well. [4]

Clubtails are fast-flying dragonflies with short flight seasons. They spend much time at rest, perching in a suitable position to dart forth to prey on flying insects. They tend to perch on the ground or on leaves with the abdomen sloping up and its tip curling down a little. Larger species may perch with a drooping abdomen or lie flat on a leaf. Another stance adopted by clubtails perching in the open is "obelisking", standing with the abdomen raised vertically, a posture adopted otherwise only by the skimmers. [3]

Most clubtails breed in streams, rivers, or lakes. The nymphs are unusual in having a flat mentum, part of the mouthparts, and their antennae have only four segments. They burrow in the sediment at the bottom of the water body, with the nymphs of the dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) living among damp bark and leaf litter at the edge of the water. [5] Some larvae variations actually differ from this typical burrowing. Some will only come out during daytime, which differs from the predominant nighttime emergence. Some larvae also will lay on flat surfaces, whereas most larvae prefer a vertical-type surface. [6]

Genera

These genera belong to the family Gomphidae. [7]

Fossil genera

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dragonhunter</span> Species of dragonfly

The dragonhunter is a clubtail dragonfly of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada.

<i>Asiagomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Asiagomphus is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species:

<i>Gomphidia</i> Genus of dragonflies

Gomphidia is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species:

<i>Ictinogomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Ictinogomphus is a genus of dragonflies in either the family Gomphidae or Lindeniidae. They are medium to large, yellow and black with clear wings. Species occur in Africa, Asia and Australia.

<i>Ophiogomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Ophiogomphus, commonly known as snaketails, is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. Most of the species in the genus Ophiogomphus have beautifully marked green club-shaped abdomens, which are more noticeable in the males.

<i>Paragomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Paragomphus is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as hooktails.

<i>Stylurus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Stylurus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as hanging clubtails from their habit of hanging nearly vertically when they perch.

<i>Gomphus</i> (dragonfly) Genus of dragonflies

Gomphus is a genus of clubtail dragonflies in the family Gomphidae.

<i>Arigomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Arigomphus is a genus of dragonflies of the Gomphidae family. This group is commonly called the pond clubtails. The species are fairly plain and only the males have the club-shaped abdomen. Unlike other gomphids, they may emerge from artificial ponds.

<i>Gomphurus externus</i> Species of dragonfly

Gomphurus externus, the plains clubtail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae.

<i>Sieboldius</i> Genus of dragonflies

Sieboldius is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. The genus occurs in Asia and is closely related to the dragonhunter of North America.

<i>Ictinogomphus rapax</i> Species of dragonfly

Ictinogomphus rapax, the common clubtail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is found throughout the Indomalayan region.

<i>Paragomphus lineatus</i> Species of dragonfly

Paragomphus lineatus, the lined hooktail, is a species of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It is a widespread species; recorded from India to Turkey.

<i>Phanogomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Phanogomphus is a genus of clubtails in the family Gomphidae found in North America. There are about 17 described species in Phanogomphus.

<i>Stylogomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Stylogomphus is a genus of clubtails in the family Gomphidae. There are about 12 described species in Stylogomphus.

Stenogomphurus is a genus of clubtails in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. There are at least two described species in Stenogomphurus, both found in North America.

<i>Gomphurus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Gomphurus is a genus of clubtails in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. There are about 13 described species in Gomphurus.

<i>Hylogomphus</i> Genus of dragonflies

Hylogomphus is a genus of clubtails in the family of dragonflies known as Gomphidae. There are about six described species in Hylogomphus.

References

  1. ↑ Rambur, Jules (1842). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Névroptères (in French). Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. pp. 534 [24] – via Gallica.
  2. ↑ "New Hampshire PBS web article"
  3. 1 2 Paulson, Dennis (2009). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press. p. 237. ISBN   978-1-4008-3294-1.
  4. ↑ http://cfb.unh.edu/StreamKey/html/organisms/OOdonata/SO_Anisoptera/FGomphidae/Gomphidae.html, http://addo.adu.org.za/index.php?taxon_id=46000
  5. ↑ John L. Capinera (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1245. ISBN   978-1-4020-6242-1.
  6. ↑ Abbott, J.C. (2009). "Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)". Encyclopedia of Inland Waters. pp. 394–404. doi:10.1016/B978-012370626-3.00183-6. ISBN   978-0-12-370626-3.
  7. ↑ "Odonata Central, Dragonfly & Damselfly World Catalog, Family Gomphidae". odonatacentral.org. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
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