Dragonfly Families of southern Africa

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The order ODONATA is subdivided into two sub-orders

• Suborder ANISOPTERA          Selys, 1854
• Suborder ZYGOPTERA           Selys, 1854

Suborder ANISOPTERA Dragonflies

What is a dragonfly

• A dragonfly is a flying insect belonging to the infraorder Anisoptera below the order Odonata. About 3,000 extant species of dragonflies are known. Most are tropical, with fewer species in temperate regions. Loss of wetland habitat threatens dragonfly populations around the world. Adult dragonflies are characterised by a pair of large, multifaceted, compound eyes, two pairs of strong, transparent wings, sometimes with coloured patches, and an elongated body. Many dragonflies have brilliant iridescent or metallic colours produced by structural coloration, making them conspicuous in flight. An adult dragonfly's compound eyes have nearly 24,000 ommatidia each.
• Dragonflies can be mistaken for the closely related damselflies, which make up the other odonatan infraorder (Zygoptera) and are similar in body plan, though usually lighter in build; however, the wings of most dragonflies are held flat and away from the body, while damselflies hold their wings folded at rest, along or above the abdomen. Dragonflies are agile fliers, while damselflies have a weaker, fluttery flight. Dragonflies make use of motion camouflage when attacking prey or rivals.
• Dragonflies are predatory insects, both in their aquatic nymphal stage (also known as "naiads") and as adults. In some species, the nymphal stage lasts up to five years, and the adult stage may be as long as 10 weeks, but most species have an adult lifespan in the order of five weeks or less, and some survive for only a few days.^[4] They are fast, agile fliers capable of highly accurate aerial ambush, sometimes migrating across oceans, and often live near water. They have a uniquely complex mode of reproduction involving indirect insemination, delayed fertilisation, and sperm competition. During mating, the male grasps the female at the back of the head, and the female curls her abdomen under her body to pick up sperm from the male's secondary genitalia at the front of his abdomen, forming the "heart" or "wheel" posture.
• Fossils of very large dragonfly-like insects, sometimes called griffinflies, are found from 325 million years ago (Mya) in Upper Carboniferous rocks; these had wingspans up to about 750 mm (30 in), though they were only distant relatives, not true dragonflies which first appeared during the Early Jurassic.
• Dragonflies are represented in human culture on artefacts such as pottery, rock paintings, statues, and Art Nouveau jewellery. They are used in traditional medicine in Japan and China, and caught for food in Indonesia. They are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness in Japan, but seen as sinister in European folklore.

Distribution:

Worldwide:

• About 3,012 species of dragonflies were known in 2010. Several new species added since
• 11 families
• 348 genera. Note as the knowledge of DNA improves these families and genera may change significantly as the families and genera is reclasified.

Africa

• Seven families in Africa.
• Six families are present in the Southern African Region

Synopsis

• Families are grouped according to the common family name 
• Family Libellulidae consist of approximate 41 genera in Africa with 11 Genera in the Southern African region
• For clarity this family is show in genus level
• Genus details below refers to southern African genera
  An example of each family is shown here.
• Images is for clarification of the group of Families or genera.
• Click on all images to enlarge.
• A click on family/species name will link to a Quick ID key or to the main main species description article and image gallery.