Macromiidae

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Macromiidae
Macromia illinoiensis.jpg
Macromia illinoiensis
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Superfamily: Libelluloidea
Family: Macromiidae
Needham, 1903 [1]
Genera

Didymops Rambur, 1842
Epophthalmia Burmeister, 1839
Macromia Rambur, 1842
Phyllomacromia Selys, 1878

Contents

The insect family Macromiidae contains the dragonfly species known as cruisers or skimmers. They tend to fly over bodies of water (and roads) straight down the middle. They are similar to Aeshnidae in size, but the eyes are green and just barely meet at the top of the head.

Macromiidae, or Macromiinae, has been traditionally considered as a subfamily of Corduliidae ( Kirby, 1890). It contains four genera and 125 species worldwide.

Females of this family lack an ovipositor at the end of the abdomen and lay their eggs by dipping the abdomen in the water as they fly over. Ovipositing is usually done without a male.

Early stages

The naiads hatch after two weeks and are born with three gills for respiration (Lung 2001).

Naiads are found in rivers, streams, and lakes where there is water movement. They crawl in debris at the water's bottom and wait for prey. They mostly eat mosquito larvae, freshwater shrimp, fish and tadpoles (Young 1955). [2]

Related Research Articles

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeshnidae</span> Family of dragonflies

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Petaluridae</span> Family of dragonflies

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lestidae</span> Family of damselflies

The Lestidae are a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender damselflies, known commonly as the spreadwings or spread-winged damselflies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gomphidae</span> Family of dragonflies

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. The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen. However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.

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<i>Macromidia</i> Genus of dragonflies

Macromidia is a genus of dragonfly in family Synthemistidae, which is earlier treated as a subfamily of Corduliidae. According to World Odonata List, this genera is best considered incertae sedis. It contains the following species:

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Protoneuridae</span> Family of damselflies

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<i>Sympetrum vicinum</i> Species of dragonfly

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Platystictidae</span> Family of damselflies

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synlestidae</span> Family of damselflies

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Synthemistidae</span> Family of dragonflies

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coenagrionoidea</span> Superfamily of damselflies

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Diphlebiidae</span> Historical grouping of damselflies

Diphlebiidae is no longer recognised as a biological family. It was the name given to a small family of damselflies, the azure damselflies, with species in two genera: Diphlebia and Philoganga. Diphlebia is found in Australia and Philoganga is found in Southeast Asia. They are large and thick-bodied damselflies. They rest with their wings spread out. The Diphlebiidae were also known as Philogangidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aeshnoidea</span> Superfamily of dragonflies

Aeshnoidea is a superfamily of dragonflies that contains two extant families, Aeshnidae and Austropetaliidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cordulegastroidea</span> Superfamily of dragonflies

Cordulegastroidea is a superfamily of dragonflies that contains three families.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Libelluloidea</span> Superfamily of dragonflies

Libelluloidea is a superfamily of dragonflies.

Gomphomacromiidae is a family of dragonflies occurring in Chile and Australia, which until recently was considered to be part of the Corduliidae family.

References

  1. Needham, James G. (1903). "A Genealogic Study of Dragon-fly Wing Venation". Proceedings of the United States National Museum. 26 (1331): 703-764 [750]. doi: 10.5479/si.00963801.26-1331.703 via Smithsonian Libraries and Archives.
  2. Young, Frank N.; Westfall, Minter J. (1955). "Review of A Manual of the Dragonflies of North America (Anisoptera). (Including the Greater Antilles and the Provinces of the Mexican Border.), Minter J. Westfall, Jr". Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences. 18 (2): 125–127. ISSN   0015-3850. JSTOR   24313584.