The chasers, darters, skimmers and perchers and their relatives form the Libellulidae, the largest dragonfly family in the world. It is sometimes considered to contain the Corduliidae as the subfamily Corduliinae and the Macromiidae as the subfamily Macromiinae. Even if these are excluded, there remains a family of over 1000 species. With nearly worldwide distribution, these are almost certainly the most often seen of all dragonflies.
Coenagrionidae or are a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselfies, 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 Platycnemididae are a family of damselflies. They are known commonly as white-legged damselflies. There are over 400 species native to the Old World. The family is divided into several subfamilies.
Aciagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Aciagrion are small and slender damselflies with a small head. They are found at still waters including swamps. Aciagrion is widely distributed in the tropics from Africa, through Indonesia to Australia. They are commonly known as Slims.
Agriocnemis is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Agriocnemis is distributed widely across Africa, South-east Asia, Indonesia, Australia and islands in the Pacific. They are small insects, commonly known as wisps.
Ceriagrion is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Species of Ceriagrion are small to medium size, generally brightly coloured damselflies. They are found across the Old World, Africa, Asia and Australia.
Gynacantha is a genus of dragonflies in the family Aeshnidae. The females have two prominent spines under the last abdominal segment. This gives the genus name and the common name two-spined darners; they are also known as duskhawkers.
Indolestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Lestidae. Species of Indolestes can be medium-sized, dull coloured dragonflies. They are found from India through Asia, Australia and the Pacific.
Ischnura is a genus of damselflies known as forktails in the family Coenagrionidae. Forktails are distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection at the tip of the abdomen which gives the group their common name.
Macrogomphus is a genus of dragonfly in the family Gomphidae. It contains the following species:
Onychogomphus is a genus of dragonflies in the family Gomphidae. They are commonly known as pincertails.
Platycnemis is a genus of damselfly in the family Platycnemididae.
Prodasineura, the Asian threadtails, is a genus of damselflies in the family Platycnemididae. All the Afrotropical species formerly in this genus are now placed in Elattoneura, the African threadtails. Dijkstra et al. (2014) moved the genus from Protoneuridae to Platycnemididae based on molecular phylogenetic research.
Pseudagrion is the largest genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae, with over 140 species. Its range includes most of Africa, much of Asia, and Australia. Africa holds most of the diversity with almost 100 species. It has occupied most of the freshwater habitats in its range, and dominates damselfly communities in habitats as different as desert pools, equatorial rainforests and montane streams.
Rhipidolestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Rhipidolestidae. They are native to subtropical Asia from Burma to Japan.
Pieter "Piet" Lieftinck (30 September 1902 – 9 July 1989) was a Dutch politician of the Christian Historical Union (CHU) party and later the Labour Party (PvdA) and economist.
Vestalis is a genus of damselflies belonging to the family Calopterygidae.
Protolestes is a genus of flatwings in the damselfly order Odonata. There are about eight described species in Protolestes.
Tatocnemis is a genus of flatwings in the damselfly order Odonata. There are about 10 described species in Tatocnemis.
