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Gomphidae

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Gomphidae
Temporal range: Cenomanian–Recent
Bladetail, male, Lindenia tetraphylla
North Macedonia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Superfamily: Gomphoidea
Family: Gomphidae
Rambur, 1842[1]
Genera

See text

The Gomphidae are a family of dragonflies commonly referred to as clubtails or club-tailed dragonflies. The family contains about 90 genera and 900 species found across North and South America, Europe, Asia, Australia, and Africa.[2] The name refers to the club-like widening of the end of the abdomen (abdominal segments 7 through 9). However, this club is usually less pronounced in females and is entirely absent in some species.

Etymology

The name may be derived from Latin gomphus or gond meaning "hinge".

Characteristics

Clubtails have small, widely separated compound eyes, a trait they share with the Petaluridae and with damselflies. The eyes are blue, turquoise, or green. The thorax in most species is pale with dark stripes, and the pattern of the stripes is often diagnostic. They lack the bright metallic colors of many dragonfly groups and are mostly cryptically colored to avoid detection and little difference between the sexes is seen.[3] Adults are usually from 40 to 70 mm (1.6 to 2.8 in) in length; there are 6 specific variations that are native to Africa alone, and vary from 33 to 40 mm (1.3 to 1.6 in) in length; there are also 97 varieties specific to North America as well.[4]

Clubtails are fast-flying dragonflies with short flight seasons. They spend much time at rest, perching in a suitable position to dart forth to prey on flying insects. They tend to perch on the ground or on leaves with the abdomen sloping up and its tip curling down a little. Larger species may perch with a drooping abdomen or lie flat on a leaf. Another stance adopted by clubtails perching in the open is "obelisking", standing with the abdomen raised vertically, a posture adopted otherwise only by the skimmers.[3]

Most clubtails breed in streams, rivers, or lakes. The nymphs are unusual in having a flat mentum, part of the mouthparts, and their antennae have only four segments. They burrow in the sediment at the bottom of the water body, with the nymphs of the dragonhunter (Hagenius brevistylus) living among damp bark and leaf litter at the edge of the water.[5] Some larvae variations actually differ from this typical burrowing. Some will only come out during daytime, which differs from the predominant nighttime emergence. Some larvae also will lay on flat surfaces, whereas most larvae prefer a vertical-type surface.[6]

  • Gomphidae wing structure: Note the similar-sized triangles of the front and hind wings and the widely separate eyes.
    Gomphidae wing structure: Note the similar-sized triangles of the front and hind wings and the widely separate eyes.
  • Pair of yellow-striped hunters mating
    Pair of yellow-striped hunters mating
  • Common clubtail, Ictinogomphus rapax
    Common clubtail, Ictinogomphus rapax
  • Gomphus vulgatissimus, showing the "clubbed" abdomen characteristic of the family
    Gomphus vulgatissimus, showing the "clubbed" abdomen characteristic of the family
  • The common clubtail Gomphus vulgatissimus head with widely separated eyes
    The common clubtail Gomphus vulgatissimus head with widely separated eyes
  • Paragomphus lineatus, male
    Paragomphus lineatus, male
  • Paragomphus lineatus, female
    Paragomphus lineatus, female

Genera

These genera belong to the family Gomphidae.[7]

Fossil genera

References

  1. ^ Rambur, Jules (1842). Histoire naturelle des insectes. Névroptères (in French). Paris: Librairie Encyclopédique de Roret. pp. 534 [24] – via Gallica.
  2. ^ "New Hampshire PBS web article"
  3. ^ a b Paulson, Dennis (2009). Dragonflies and Damselflies of the West. Princeton University Press. p. 237. ISBN 978-1-4008-3294-1.
  4. ^ http://cfb.unh.edu/StreamKey/html/organisms/OOdonata/SO_Anisoptera/FGomphidae/Gomphidae.html, http://addo.adu.org.za/index.php?taxon_id=46000
  5. ^ John L. Capinera (2008). Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 1245. ISBN 978-1-4020-6242-1.
  6. ^ Abbott, J.C. (2009). "Odonata (Dragonflies and Damselflies)". Encyclopedia of Inland Waters. pp. 394–404. doi:10.1016/B978-012370626-3.00183-6. ISBN 978-0-12-370626-3.
  7. ^ "Odonata Central, Dragonfly & Damselfly World Catalog, Family Gomphidae". odonatacentral.org. Retrieved 2018-05-13.
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