Family Macromiidae Needham, 1903
cruisers
Synonyms:
- scientific: Corduliidae Selys, 1850 (in part)
Introduction
Until recently, almost all of about 125 cruiser species were placed in the huge genus Macromia, but all African species were transferred to Phyllomacromia. Macromia is now restricted to North America, south-western Europe, and eastern and southern Asia to northern Australia. Together with the North American genus Didymops and the Asian Epophthalmia they form a welldefined family, separate from Corduliidae. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]
Diagnosis
The only genus represented in Africa is Phyllomacromia, which see for its identification.
Phyllomacromia paula (Karsch, 1892). Male © Dirk Motshagen
Phyllomacromia sylvatica (Fraser, 1954). Male © Hans-Joachim Clausnitzer
Phyllomacromia overlaeti (Schouteden, 1934). Male © Paul Schrijvershof
Phyllomacromia picta (Hagen in Selys, 1871). Male © Warwick Tarboton
Map citation: Clausnitzer, V., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R. Koch, J.-P. Boudot, W.R.T. Darwall, J. Kipping, B. Samraoui, M.J. Samways, J.P. Simaika & F. Suhling, 2012. Focus on African Freshwaters: hotspots of dragonfly diversity and conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 129-134.
Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-10-30].
