Megapodagrionidae

Megapodagrionidae
Megapodagrionidae
Common Flatwing
(Austroargiolestes icteromelas: Argiolestinae)
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Superfamily: Lestoidea
Family: Megapodagrionidae
Tillyard, 1917
Subfamilies

4-7, see text

Megapodagrionidae is a family of damselflies, commonly called flatwings for their habit of spreading out the hindwings horizontally when at rest. They belong to the superfamily Lestoidea.

The Megapodagrionidae are usually divided into five or six subfamilies:

  • Argiolestinae
  • Hypolestinae
  • Megapodagrioninae
  • Philosininae
  • Pseudolestinae (often treated as distinct family)

Of these, the Argiolestinae are most diverse, while the Megapodagrioninae and (if placed here) Pseudolestinae are smallish. The others are very small or even monotypic.

In addition, two monotypic genera are sometimes placed here as monotypic subfamilies: Thaumatoneura is otherwise regarded as a monotypic family of the Calopterygoidea. Coryphagrion was usually also considered a monotypic family in older treatments; in recent times it is often included in the Pseudostigmatidae of the superfamily Coenagrionoidea.

See also

  • List of damselflies of the world (Megapodagrionidae)
Stub icon This article related to damselflies is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.