Cruisers
(Family Macromiidae Needham, 1903)
Distribution Worldwide
- Worldwide 125 Cruiser species in genus Macromia
Distribution in Africa and surrounding Islands
- About 35 Cruiser species in genus Phyllomacromia are endemic to Africa with a single Malagasy species.
- Three species in southern Africa
General identification features
- Large to Very large sized
- Vividly coloured in black and yellow with metallic green eyes
- Males and females alike in colour and markings
- Legs exceptional long
- Discoidal cell (DC) (forewing) and DC (hindwing) nearly similar in shape
- DC elongated, tapering point facing away from the body
- Ax veins asymmetrical, not meeting on subcostal vein
- Abdomen with broader terminal segments (clubtails)
Habitat and behaviour
- Most species reproduce in flowing water, such as forest streams. Such streams are the habitat especially of larger and darker species like P. monoceros (Sable Cruiser). The smaller and paler species, like P. picta (Darting Cruiser) generally occur in drier habitats, like savanna and woodland. These open land species probably breed mainly in rivers, although at least P. contumax (Two-banded Cruiser) and P. picta also use lakes
- All seldom settle (hanging in vegetation) and are hard to catch. Over water they fly low, fast, erratically and often in shade.
- Hunting away from water, in glades and along forest margins and roadsides, they fly more slowly but often quite high.
- Perches by hanging on plant stems
Synopsis
Where possible only images of males are shown
To view images of females please follow the manu items to the main display pages
A selection of images
