Oder Odonata

P. PESSACQ; MUZÓN, JAVIER R.; GASPAR NEISS, U.

Keys to Neotropical Hexapoda, 4th Edition

Elsevier - Academic Press

Año: 2018; p. 355 - 366

Odonata, commonly known as damselflies and dragonflies,is one of the most ancient orders of Pterygota. It iscomprised of cosmopolitan, hemimetabolous insects thatare ubiquitous in most aquatic environments (includingseveral brackish and terrestrial habitats). Due to theirrelatively big size and beauty, these insects have receivedadequate taxonomical attention, and currently there areapproximately 6,000 identified species (Dijkstra et al.,2013). Another 1,000 to 1,500 species are expected to existworldwide (Kalkman et al., 2008).Although considered as a monophyletic group(e.g., Davis et al., 2011), the position of extant Odonatarelative to Ephemeroptera and Neoptera and the validity ofPaleoptera as a natural taxon are still debated (Hovmo¨ lleret al., 2002; Rehn, 2008; Odgen & Whiting, 2003). Thehigher relationships within the order, including thecomposition and relationships among superfamilies, iscontroversial and not fully resolved (see Bybee et al., 2008;Rehn, 2008; Trueman, 2007). For practical reasons, wefollow the latest classification scheme (Dijkstra et al.,2013) which considers that: (1) Zygoptera is comprisedof four superfamilies (Lestoidea, Platystictoidea, Calopterygoidea,and Coenagrionoidea); (2) Anisozygopteraincludes only the superfamily Epiophlebioidea; and (3)Anisoptera is composed of five superfamilies (Aeshnoidea,Petaluroidea, Gomphoidea, Cordulegastroidea, and Libelluloidea).Except for Epiophlebioidea, all these superfamiliesare represented in the Neotropical region. Adetailed discussion of the phylogenetic of the order and thecomposition and systematics of the superfamily can befound in Suhling et al. (2015). Additional information istreated under each superfamily chapter.The Neotropical region, with 1,768 species presentlydescribed (Neiss & Hamada, 2014), has the richest fauna ofOdonata worldwide. Many new species and previouslyunknown immature stages are being described, but still, thelarvae of only about 75% genera and 40% of the species areknown (Garrison et al., 2006, 2010; von Ellenrieder, 2009).In the period of 2004e2009, 93 species and 11 genera, andthe larval stage of 90 species were described (von Ellenrieder,2009). Zygoptera is represented in this region by 10families, 108 genera, and 974 species, while Anisopteraincludes 9 families, 102 genera, and 794 species (Fleck,2011; Fleck & El Adouzi, 2013; Neiss & Hamada, 2014).