Argiolestidae

Argiolestidae
Austroargiolestes
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Suborder: Zygoptera
Superfamily: Megapodagrionoidea
Family: Argiolestidae
Fraser, 1957
Subfamilies
Map showing distribution of Argiolestidae
Distribution of Argiolestidae

Argiolestidae is a family of damselflies in the superfamily Megapodagrionoidea. The family occurs primarily in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Southeast Asia, Madagascar and parts of Africa, with most species inhabiting forest streams and other freshwater habitats.

Members of the family are commonly known as flatwings because adults usually perch with their wings held outstretched rather than folded above the abdomen. Species are slender damselflies associated with boggy seepages, swamps and streams.

Argiolestidae was formerly treated as part of a broadly defined Megapodagrionidae. Modern molecular studies have shown that the traditional family contained numerous unrelated lineages, and Argiolestidae is now recognised as a distinct family within Calopterygoidea.

Taxonomic history

In 1957 Fraser recognised Argiolestinae as a distinct subgroup within a broadly defined Megapodagrionidae. His concept of the group included numerous genera from Australasia, Asia, Africa and the Americas that are now placed in several different families. Fraser noted similarities in wing venation and larval morphology, but also recognised considerable variation among the included genera.

Subsequent studies showed that Megapodagrionidae, as traditionally defined, did not represent a natural evolutionary group. Molecular phylogenetic analyses supported the recognition of Argiolestidae as a distinct family and led to the transfer of many former members of Argiolestinae to other families, including Heteragrionidae, Philogeniidae, Philosinidae and Protolestidae.

In 2026, Carter and colleagues recognised Argiolestidae and Megapodagrionidae as the superfamily Megapodagrionoidea, reflecting their close evolutionary relationship within the revised classification of damselflies.

Genera

The following genera are currently placed in Argiolestidae:

Etymology

The family name Argiolestidae is derived from the type genus Argiolestes, with the standard zoological suffix -idae used for animal families. The name Argiolestes is possibly formed from argio-, an anagram of agrio- (as in the genus Agrion), combined with Lestes, the name of a related genus.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Fraser, F.C. (1957). A reclassification of the order Odonata. Handbook / Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales; 12. Sydney: Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. pp. 133 [60].
  2. 1 2 3 Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 Carter, Payton; Goodman, Aaron; Abbott, John; Bota Sierra, Cornelio; Bybee, Seth M.; Dow, Rory A.; Fomekong Lontchi, Judicael; Frandsen, Paul B.; Gonzalez Mozo, Laura; Guralnick, Rob; Hämäläinen, Matti; Joshi, Shantanu; Kohli, Manpreet K.; Lupiyaningdyah, Pungki; Montana, Katherine O.; Newton, Lacie; Onsongo, Violet; Orr, Albert G.; Pinto, Ângelo Parise; Sanchez-Herrera, Melissa; Sutherland, Laura N.; Theischinger, Gunther; Ware, Jessica L.; Zhang, Haomiao; Kalkman, Vincent J. (2026). "The classification and diversity of extant dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata)". International Journal of Odonatology. 29: 95–124. doi:10.48156/1388.2026.1917385.
  4. ↑ "Family ARGIOLESTIDAE". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2022. Retrieved 1 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2021). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia (2nd ed.). Melbourne, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. ISBN 9781486313747.
  6. 1 2 Bybee, S. M.; Kalkman, V. J.; Erickson, R. J.; Frandsen, P. B.; Breinholt, J. W.; Suvorov, A.; Ware, J. L. (2021). "Phylogeny and classification of Odonata using targeted genomics". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 160: 1–15. Bibcode:2021MolPE.16007115B. doi:10.1016/j.ympev.2021.107115. hdl:11093/2768. PMID 33609713.
  7. 1 2 3 Dijkstra, Klaas-Douwe B.; Kalkman, Vincent J.; Dow, Rory A.; Stokvis, Frank R.; Van Tol, Jan (2014). "Redefining the damselfly families: A comprehensive molecular phylogeny of Zygoptera (Odonata)". Systematic Entomology. 39 (1): 68–96. doi:10.1111/syen.12035.
  8. ↑ Rehn, A.C. (2003). "Phylogenetic analysis of higher-level relationships of Odonata". Systematic Entomology. 28 (2): 181–239. Bibcode:2003SysEn..28..181R. doi:10.1046/j.1365-3113.2003.00210.x.
  9. ↑ Bybee, S.M.; Ogden, T.H.; Branham, M.A.; Whiting, M.F. (2008). "Molecules, morphology and fossils: a comprehensive approach to odonate phylogeny and the evolution of the odonate wing". Cladistics. 24 (4): 477–514. doi:10.1111/j.1096-0031.2007.00191.x. PMID 34879634.
  10. ↑ Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.

Further reading