Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order

Odonata Odonata is an order of predatory flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies (as well as the '' Epiophlebia'' damsel-dragonflies). The two major groups are distinguished with dragonflies (Anisoptera) usually being bulkier with ...

and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the

damselflies Damselflies are flying insects of the suborder Zygoptera in the order Odonata. They are similar to dragonflies (which constitute the other odonatan suborder, Epiprocta) but are usually smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the win ...

, which although less known than the

dragonflies A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threate ...

, 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. This family is referred to as the narrow-winged damselflies or the pond damselflies. The Coenagrionidae enjoy a worldwide distribution, and are among the most common of damselfly families. This family has the smallest of damselfly species. More than 110 genera of the family Coenagrionidae are currently accepted.

Integrated Taxonomic Information System The Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS) is an American partnership of federal agencies designed to provide consistent and reliable information on the taxonomy of biological species. ITIS was originally formed in 1996 as an interagenc ...

(2007)
Coenagrionidae
retrieved November 4, 2007.

Etymology

The name may be derived from Greek ''coen'' meaning shared or common and ''agrio'' meaning fields or wild.

Characteristics

* Usually have a black pattern * Ground color may be green, blue, yellow, orange, or purple * Narrow, stalked, usually colorless and clear wings * Two antenodal cross veins * Vein M3 arising nearer to nodus than arculus Adults are seen around various habitats including ponds and wetlands. The females lay their eggs among living or dead submerged vegetation, and in some species, even crawl about underwater depositing their eggs. The nymphs are usually found in debris or among living or dead submerged plant material.

Genera

These genera belong to the family Coenagrionidae: * '' Acanthagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Acanthallagma'' Williamson & Williamson, 1924 * '' Aceratobasis'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Aciagrion'' Selys, 1891 * '' Aeolagrion'' Williamson, 1917 * '' Africallagma'' Kennedy, 1920 * ''

Agriocnemis ''Agriocnemis'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which althoug ...

'' Selys, 1877 * '' Amazoneura'' Machado, 2004 * ''

Amphiagrion ''Amphiagrion'' is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although ...

'' Selys, 1876 (red damsels) * '' Amphiallagma'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Amphicnemis'' Selys, 1863 * '' Andinagrion'' Bulla, 1973 * '' Angelagrion'' Lencioni, 2008 * '' Anisagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Anomisma'' McLachlan, 1877 * '' Antiagrion'' Ris, 1904 * '' Apanisagrion'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Archibasis'' Kirby, 1890 * '' Argentagrion'' Fraser, 1948 * '' Argia'' Rambur, 1842 (dancers) * '' Argiocnemis'' Selys, 1877 * '' Austroagrion'' Tillyard, 1913 * '' Austroallagma'' Lieftinck, 1953 * '' Austrocnemis'' Tillyard, 1913 * '' Austrocoenagrion'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Austrotepuibasis'' Machado & Lencioni, 2011 * '' Azuragrion'' May, 2002 * '' Bromeliagrion'' De Marmels, 2005 * '' Caliagrion'' Tillyard, 1913 * '' Calvertagrion'' St. Quentin, 1960 * '' Ceriagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Chromagrion'' Needham, 1903 (aurora damsels) * '' Coenagriocnemis'' Fraser, 1949 * ''

Coenagrion ''Coenagrion'' is a genus of damselfly, damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly called the Eurasian Bluets (although three species are found in North America: ''Coenagrion angulatum'', ''Coenagrion interrogatum'', and ''Coenagrion reso ...

'' Kirby, 1890 (Eurasian bluets) * '' Coryphagrion'' Morton, 1924 * '' Cyanallagma'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Denticulobasis'' Machado, 2009 * '' Diceratobasis'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Dolonagrion'' Garrison & von Ellenrieder, 2008 * '' Drepanoneura'' von Ellenrieder & Garrison, 2008 * '' Enacantha'' Donnelly & Alayo, 1966 * '' Enallagma'' Charpentier, 1840 (American bluets) * ''

Epipleoneura ''Epipleoneura'' is a genus of Neotropic damselflies in the Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which alth ...

'' Williamson, 1915 * '' Epipotoneura'' Williamson, 1915 * '' Erythromma'' Charpentier, 1840 * '' Fluminagrion'' Anjos-Santos, Lozano & Costa, 2013 * '' Forcepsioneura'' Lencioni, 1999 * '' Franciscagrion'' Machado & Bedê, 2016 * '' Franciscobasis'' Machado & Bedê, 2016 * '' Hesperagrion'' Calvert, 1902 (painted damsels) * '' Hivaagrion'' Hämäläinen & Marinov, 2014 * '' Homeoura'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Huosoma'' Guan, Dumont, Yu, Han & Vierstraete, 2013 * '' Hylaeonympha'' Rácenis, 1968 * '' Idioneura'' Selys, 1860 * '' Inpabasis'' Santos, 1961 * ''

Ischnura ''Ischnura'' is a genus of damselflies known as forktails (or sometimes bluetails) in the family Coenagrionidae. Forktails are distributed worldwide, including various oceanic islands. The males have a forked projection at the tip of the abdome ...

'' Charpentier, 1840 (forktails) * '' Junix'' Rácenis, 1968 * '' Lamproneura'' De Marmels, 2003 * '' Leptagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Leptobasis'' Selys, 1877 (swamp damsels) * ''

Leptocnemis ''Leptocnemis'' is a genus of narrow-winged damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, ...

'' Selys, 1886 * '' Leucobasis'' Rácenis, 1959 * '' Luzonobasis'' Villanueva, 2012 * ''

Mecistogaster ''Mecistogaster'' is a genus of large Neotropical damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as helicopter damsels. There are eleven species distributed from Mexico to Argentina Argentina, officially the Argentine Republic ...

'' Rambur, 1842 * '' Megalagrion'' McLachlan, 1883 * ''

Megaloprepus ''Megaloprepus'' is a genus of large Neotropical damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae, commonly known as helicopter damsels. There are four species distributed from Mexico to Ecuador and Peru.Feindt, W., & Hadrys, H. (2022)The damselfly genus ...

'' Rambur, 1842 * '' Melanesobasis'' Donnelly, 1984 * '' Mesamphiagrion'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Mesoleptobasis'' Sjöstedt, 1918 * '' Metaleptobasis'' Calvert, 1907 * ''

Microstigma ''Microstigma'' is a species of damselfly, damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae. Species * ''Microstigma anomalum'' Rambur, 1842 * ''Microstigma maculatum'' Hagen in Selys, 1860 * ''Microstigma rotundatum'' Selys, 1860 Reference ...

'' Rambur, 1842 * '' Millotagrion'' Fraser, 1953 * '' Minagrion'' Santos, 1965 * '' Mortonagrion'' Fraser, 1920 * ''

Nehalennia Nehalennia (also Nehalenia, Nehalaenniae, Nehalaenia) is a tutelary goddess who was worshipped in 2nd- and 3rd-centuryLendering (2006). Gallia Belgica by travelers, especially sailors and traders, at the mouth of the Scheldt. Her origin is un ...

'' Selys, 1850 (sprites) * '' Neoerythromma'' Kennedy, 1920 (yellowfaces) * ''

Neoneura ''Neoneura'' is a genus of damselfly in the threadtail family Coenagrionidae. They are found in the Neotropics, from Cuba and Texas to Argentina. Characteristics Though part of the threadtail family, the abdomen of neoneurans, in contrast to tha ...

'' Selys, 1860 (robust threadtails) * '' Nesobasis'' Selys, 1891 * '' Oreiallagma'' von Ellenrieder & Garrison, 2008 * '' Oreocnemis'' Pinhey, 1971 * '' Oxyagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Oxyallagma'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Pacificagrion'' Fraser, 1926 * '' Pandanobasis'' Villanueva, 2012 * '' Papuagrion'' Ris, 1913 * '' Paracercion'' Weekers & Dumont, 2004 * '' Pericnemis'' Selys, 1863 * '' Peristicta'' Hagen in Selys, 1860 * '' Phasmoneura'' Williamson, 1916 * '' Phoenicagrion'' von Ellenrieder, 2008 * '' Pinheyagrion'' May, 2002 * '' Plagulibasis'' Lieftinck, 1949 * '' Platystigma'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Proischnura'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Proneura'' Selys, 1889 * '' Protallagma'' Kennedy, 1920 * ''

Protoneura ''Protoneura'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although le ...

'' Selys in Sagra, 1857 * '' Psaironeura'' Williamson, 1915 * '' Pseudagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Pseudostigma'' Selys, 1860 * ''

Pyrrhosoma ''Pyrrhosoma'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although le ...

'' Charpentier, 1840 * '' Roppaneura'' Santos, 1966 * '' Sangabasis'' Villanueva, 2012 * '' Schistolobos'' von Ellenrieder & Garrison, 2008 * '' Stenagrion'' Laidlaw, 1915 * ''

Teinobasis ''Teinobasis'' is a genus of damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae Coenagrionidae is a family of damselflies, also known as pond damselflies, in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although ...

'' Kirby, 1890 * '' Telagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Telebasis'' Selys, 1865 (firetails) * '' Tepuibasis'' De Marmels, 2007 * '' Thaumatagrion'' Lieftinck, 1932 * '' Tigriagrion'' Calvert, 1909 * '' Tuberculobasis'' Machado, 2009 * '' Tukanobasis'' Machado, 2009 * '' Vanuatubasis'' Ober & Staniczek, 2009 * '' Xanthagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Xanthocnemis'' Tillyard, 1913 * '' Xiphiagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Zoniagrion'' Kennedy, 1920 Mesamphiagrion laterale female Cundinamarca.jpg, ''Mesamphiagrion laterale''
adult female, Colombia Mesamphiagrion laterale immature female Cundinamarca.jpg, ''Mesamphiagrion laterale''
immature female Mesamphiagrion laterale male Cuninamarca.jpg, ''Mesamphiagrion laterale''
adult male, Colombia Mesamphiagrion laterale juvenile male Cuninamarca.jpg, ''Mesamphiagrion laterale''
immature male

References

External links

Info and Photos at BugGuide

* * {{Authority control Coenagrionoidea Odonata families Odonata of Australia Odonata of Oceania Odonata of Asia Odonata of Africa Odonata of North America Taxa named by William Forsell Kirby Insects described in 1890 Damselflies

Etymology

Characteristics

Genera

See also

References

External links