The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order

Odonata Odonata is an order of flying insects that includes the dragonflies and damselflies. Members of the group first appeared during the Triassic, though members of their total group, Odonatoptera, first appeared in Late Carboniferous. The two comm ...

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, Anisoptera, but are smaller and have slimmer bodies. Most species fold the wings along ...

, 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 true dragonfly are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threa ...

, 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

Coromandel Marsh Dart (Ceriagrion coromandelianum)- Male W IMG 3835

Saffron-faced Blue Dart (Pseudagrion rubriceps) W IMG 0876

These genera belong to the family Coenagrionidae: * ''

Acanthagrion ''Acanthagrion'' is a genus of damselflies. It is the dominant genus of damselfly at ponds and lakes in the Neotropics The Neotropical realm is one of the eight biogeographic realms constituting Earth's land surface. Physically, it includes ...

'' Selys, 1876 * '' Acanthallagma'' Williamson & Williamson, 1924 * '' Aceratobasis'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Aciagrion'' Selys, 1891 * '' Aeolagrion'' Williamson, 1917 * ''

Africallagma ''Africallagma'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae 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, ...

'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Agriocnemis'' Selys, 1877 * '' Amazoneura'' Machado, 2004 * ''

Amphiagrion ''Amphiagrion'' is a genus of damselfly, damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae. The males are bright red with some black; the females are duller. The genus is confined to North America. The genus contains the following species: *''Amphiagrio ...

'' 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 ''Archibasis'' is a genus of damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae 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 dr ...

'' Kirby, 1890 * '' Argentagrion'' Fraser, 1948 * '' Argia'' Rambur, 1842 (dancers) * ''

Argiocnemis ''Argiocnemis'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. Species of ''Argiocnemis'' are generally small to medium-sized damselflies, darkly coloured with pale markings. They occur in Africa, Indian Ocean islands, South-east Asia, New ...

'' Selys, 1877 * ''

Austroagrion ''Austroagrion'' is a genus of damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae. Species of ''Austroagrion'' are small damselflies; males are black with blue or green markings while females are paler. ''Austroagrion'' occurs in Papua New Guine ...

'' 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 ''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. Species The g ...

'' Selys, 1876 * ''

Chromagrion ''Chromagrion'' is a genus of aurora damsels in the damselfly family Coenagrionidae. There is one described species in ''Chromagrion'', ''C. conditum''. References External links

* Coenagrionidae Articles created by Qbugbot Mono ...

'' Needham, 1903 (aurora damsels) * '' Coenagriocnemis'' Fraser, 1949 * ''

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

'' 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 damselfly, damselflies in the Protoneuridae family. Species *''Epipleoneura albuquerquei'' *''Epipleoneura angeloi'' Pessacq & Costa, 2010Pessacq, P. & Costa, J. M. "''Epipleoneura angeloi'' (Odonata: Pr ...

'' 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 damselfly, 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 t ...

'' Charpentier, 1840 (forktails) * ''

Junix ''Junix'' is a genus of dragonfly in the family Coenagrionidae. The only species is ''Junix elumbis''. It is Endemism, endemic to Venezuela. It occupies moist, lowland habitats that are subtropical or tropical, usually near forests or rivers. Re ...

'' Rácenis, 1968 * '' Lamproneura'' De Marmels, 2003 * '' Leptagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Leptobasis'' Selys, 1877 (swamp damsels) * '' Leptocnemis'' Selys, 1886 * '' Leucobasis'' Rácenis, 1959 * '' Luzonobasis'' Villanueva, 2012 * '' Mecistogaster'' Rambur, 1842 * '' Megalagrion'' McLachlan, 1883 * '' Megaloprepus'' Rambur, 1842 * '' Melanesobasis'' Donnelly, 1984 * '' Mesamphiagrion'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Mesoleptobasis'' Sjöstedt, 1918 * '' Metaleptobasis'' Calvert, 1907 * '' Microstigma'' Rambur, 1842 * '' Millotagrion'' Fraser, 1953 * '' Minagrion'' Santos, 1965 * '' Mortonagrion'' Fraser, 1920 * ''

Nehalennia Nehalennia (spelled variously) is a goddess of unclear origin, perhaps Germanic or Celtic. She is attested on and depicted upon numerous votive altars discovered around what is now the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands, where the Schelde River ...

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

Neoneura ''Neoneura'' is a genus of damselfly in the threadtail family Protoneuridae. 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 ''Proischnura'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It contains the following species: * ''Proischnura polychromatica'' * ''Proischnura rotundipennis'' * ''Proischnura subfurcata'' References

Coenagrionidae Zygoptera ge ...

'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Proneura'' Selys, 1889 * '' Protallagma'' Kennedy, 1920 * '' Protoneura'' Selys in Sagra, 1857 * '' Psaironeura'' Williamson, 1915 * '' Pseudagrion'' Selys, 1876 * '' Pseudostigma'' Selys, 1860 * ''

Pyrrhosoma ''Pyrrhosoma'' is a genus of damselfly in the family Coenagrionidae. It contains the following species: *''Pyrrhosoma elisabethae'' – Greek red damselfly *''Pyrrhosoma latiloba'' *''Pyrrhosoma nymphula'' – large red damselfly *''Pyrrhosoma ...

'' Charpentier, 1840 * '' Roppaneura'' Santos, 1966 * '' Sangabasis'' Villanueva, 2012 * '' Schistolobos'' von Ellenrieder & Garrison, 2008 * '' Stenagrion'' Laidlaw, 1915 * '' Teinobasis'' 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 ''Xanthocnemis'' is a genus of narrow-winged damselflies in the family Coenagrionidae The insect family Coenagrionidae is placed in the order Odonata and the suborder Zygoptera. The Zygoptera are the damselflies, which although less known than ...

'' Tillyard, 1913 * ''

Xiphiagrion ''Xiphiagrion'' is a small genus of damselflies of the family Coenagrionidae 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 drag ...

'' Selys, 1876 * '' Zoniagrion'' Kennedy, 1920

References

External links

Info and Photos at BugGuide

* * {{Taxonbar, from=Q502684 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