Family LESTIDAE

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Introduction

The generic makeup of the cosmopolitan family Lestidae is disputed (cf. Fraser 1951; Lieftinck 1960). Davies (1981) accepted 12 genera and 184 species, while Bridges (1994) accepted only eight genera and 157 species. We recognize two subfamilies: the Lestinae (including the only species of Lestes in Australia) and the Sympecmatinae (Austrolestes and Indolestes, 11 and three species, respectively). Watson & Moulds (1979) revised the Australian Lestidae. No undescribed species are known. Hawking & Theischinger (1999) give an illustrated key to the larvae of eight Austrolestes species known from New South Wales.

Diagnosis

Adult: two antenodal crossveins; postnodal crossveins more or less aligned with crossveins behind them; discoidal cell with very acute distal angle; an oblique vein present between R3 and IR3; in Australian forms, IR3 lying closer to arculus than to nodus; CuP and anal vein well developed; supplementary intercalary longitudinal veins present.

Larva: labium spoon-shaped, palps dentate on inner margin, moveable hook bearing major setae, premental setae present, median lobe cleft; caudal gills lamellate, denodate, the sides of the lamellae upright, the tracheal branches at an approximate right angle to main axis.

General References

Bridges, C.A. 1994. Catalogue of the family-group, genus-group and species-group names of the Odonata of the world. Urbana, Illinois : C.A. Bridges xiv 951 pp.

Davies, D.A.L. 1981. A synopsis of the extant genera of the Odonata. Societas Internationalis Odonatologica, Rapid Communications 3: i-xiv 1-59

Fraser, F.C. 1951. Outline of a new classification for the legion Lestes Selys (Order Odonata). Entomological News 62: 61-69

Hawking, J. & Theischinger, G. 1999. Dragonfly larvae (Odonata). A guide to the identification of larvae of Australian families and to the identification and ecology of larvae from New South Wales. Albury : Cooperative Research Centre for Freshwater Ecology Vol. 24 iv 218 pp.

Lieftinck, M.A. 1960. Considerations on the genus Lestes Leach with notes on the classification and descriptions of new Indo-Australian species and larval forms (Odonata, Lestidae). Nova Guinea (Zoologie) 8: 127-171 pls II-V

Watson, J.A.L. & Moulds, M.S. 1979. New species of Australian Lestidae (Odonata). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 18: 143-155

Common Name References

Theischinger, G., Hawking, J. & Orr, A. 2021. The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 2nd edn. (Reedlings)

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