The insect family Macromiidae contains the
dragonfly species known as cruisers or skimmers. They tend to fly over bodies of water (and roads) straight down the middle. They are similar to
Aeshnidae
The Aeshnidae, also called aeshnids, hawkers, or darners, is a family of dragonflies. The family includes the largest dragonflies found in North America and Europe and among the largest dragonflies on the planet.
Description
Common worldwide or ...
in size, but the eyes are green and just barely meet at the top of the head.
Macromiidae, or Macromiinae, has been traditionally considered as a subfamily of
Corduliidae
The Corduliidae, also knowns as the emeralds, emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers, is a family of dragonflies. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas of metallic green or yellow, and most of them have large, emerald-gr ...
(). It contains four genera and 125 species worldwide.
Females of this family lack an
ovipositor at the end of the abdomen and lay their eggs by dipping the abdomen in the water as they fly over. Ovipositing is usually done without a male.
Early Stages
The Naiads hatch after two weeks and are born with three gills for respiration (Lung 2001).
Naiads are found in rivers, streams, and lakes where there is water movement. They crawl in debris at the water's bottom and wait for prey. They mostly eat mosquito larvae, freshwater shrimp, fish and tadpoles (Young 1955).
References
2. Young, Frank N.; Westfall, Minter J. (1955). "Review of A Manual of the Dragonflies of North America (Anisoptera). (Including the Greater Antilles and the Provinces of the Mexican Border.), Minter J. Westfall, Jr". ''Quarterly Journal of the Florida Academy of Sciences''. 18 (2): 125–127.
ISSN
An International Standard Serial Number (ISSN) is an eight-digit serial number used to uniquely identify a serial publication, such as a magazine. The ISSN is especially helpful in distinguishing between serials with the same title. ISSNs ...
0015-3850.
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External links
Images of Macromiidae
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2472269
Libelluloidea
Odonata of Australia
Odonata families
Taxa named by James George Needham