Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies, which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Anisoptera, but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along the body when at rest, unlike dragonflies which hold the wings flat and away from the body. An ancient group, damselflies have existed since at least the Lower Permian, and are found on every continent except Antarctica.
Punaluʻu Beach is a beach between Pāhala and Nāʻālehu on the Big Island of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The beach has black sand made of basalt and created by lava flowing into the ocean which explodes as it reaches the ocean and cools. This volcanic activity is in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Punaluʻu is frequented by endangered hawksbill and green turtles, which can often be seen basking on the black sand.
Megalagrion is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae It contains approximately 26 species, all of which are endemic to Hawaiʻi.
The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than the dragonflies, are no less common. More than 1,300 species are in this family, making it the largest damselfly family. The family Coenagrionidae has six subfamilies: Agriocnemidinae, Argiinae, Coenagrioninae, Ischnurinae, Leptobasinae, and Pseudagrioninae.
The Pseudostigmatidae are a family of tropical damselflies, known as helicopter damselflies, giant damselflies, or forest giants. The family includes the largest of all damselfly species. They specialize in preying on web-building spiders, and breed in phytotelmata, the small bodies of water held by plants such as bromeliads.
Coenagrion mercuriale, the southern damselfly, is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is found in Algeria, Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Morocco, the Netherlands, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland, Tunisia, and the United Kingdom. Its natural habitats are rivers and freshwater springs. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Megalagrion adytum is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae that is endemic to Hawaii. Its natural habitat is swamps.
Megalagrion jugorum is a possibly extinct species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae that is endemic to the island of Maui in Hawaii.
Megalagrion leptodemas is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae that is endemic to the island of Oʻahu in Hawaii. It inhabits rivers in the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau ranges. It is threatened by habitat loss. It is currently labeled as critically endangered.
Megalagrion nesiotes is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Its common name is flying earwig Hawaiian damselfly. It is endemic to Hawaiʻi, where it is known from only one location on the island of Maui. It is extirpated from the island of Hawaii. This insect was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 2010.
Megalagrion nigrohamatum is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae that is endemic to Hawaii.
Megalagrion oahuense is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to Hawaii. It is the only known species of odonate with terrestrial nymphs.
Megalagrion oceanicum is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae that is endemic to the island of Oʻahu in Hawaii. It inhabits rivers in the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau ranges. It is threatened by habitat loss.
Megalagrion pacificum is a species of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It is endemic to rivers and freshwater marshes in Hawaiʻi, especially the island of Molokaʻi. It is threatened by habitat loss. This insect was federally listed as an endangered species of the United States in 2010.
Trithemis is a genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. They are commonly known as dropwings. There are over 40 species, mainly from Africa; two are endemic to Madagascar, and five can be found in Asia. They are found in a wide variety of habitats; some species being adapted to permanent streams in forests, and others being capable of breeding in temporary pools in deserts.
Anax is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. It includes species such as the emperor dragonfly, Anax imperator.
The Hawaiian hawk or ʻio is a raptor in the genus Buteo endemic to Hawaiʻi, currently restricted to the Big Island. The ʻio is one of two birds of prey that is native to Hawaiʻi, the other being the Pueo and fossil evidence indicates that it inhabited the island of Hawaiʻi, Molokaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui and Kauaʻi at one time. Today, it is known to breed only on the Big Island, in stands of native ʻōhiʻa lehua trees. The species was protected as an endangered species in the United States, but was delisted in 2020. However, the IUCN classifies the species as Near Threatened.
