Macromiidae

Macromiidae
Macromia illinoiensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Superfamily:	Libelluloidea
Family:	Macromiidae Needham, 1903 [1]
Genera
Epophthalmia Burmeister, 1839 Macromia Rambur, 1842 Phyllomacromia Selys, 1878

Macromiidae is a family of dragonflies. ^[2] The family contains species known as cruisers or skimmers. They are known to fly over bodies of water and roads. They are similar to Aeshnidae in size, but with green eyes that barely meet at the top of their head. ^[3]

The family Macromiidae is in the superfamily Libelluloidea. It contains three genera and 125 species worldwide. ^[2]

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

Early stages

Naiads hatch after two weeks and are born with three gills for respiration. ^[4]

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. ^[5]

Genera

The World Odonata List (2025) recognises the following genera in Macromiidae: ^[2]

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

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. Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama.
3. Chacon, Sheryl (2005). "Cruisers (Macromiidae)". Odes for Beginners. Archived from the original on January 27, 2007. Retrieved 2006-04-04.
4. Lung, Mark; Sommer, Stefan (2001). "Macromiidae: The Cruisers". Dragonflies Index. Retrieved 2006-04-04.
5. 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.