Family Argiolestidae Fraser, 1957
Old World flatwings
Synonyms:
- scientific: Megapodagrionidae Calvert, 1913 (in part)
Introduction
Over 40 genera and almost 300 species have previously been assigned to the Megapodagrionidae, with concentrations in Australasia, tropical America and Madagascar. This assemblage is very heterogeneous and consists of multiple distantly related families. Argiolestidae is the largest family separated from this hotchpotch in the Old World. Two Neurolestes species confined to the Lower Guinea are its only representatives in mainland Africa. Numerous Nesolestes species occur in Madagascar and the Comoros, while related genera are found in the Seychelles and south-eastern Asia. The centre of the family’s diversity, however, is in New Guinea and Australia. [Adapted from Dijkstra & Clausnitzer 2014]
Diagnosis
No diagnosis of this family is presently available. Please refer to the introduction of the genus Neurolestes for more information.
Neurolestes trinervis Selys, 1885. Male © Nicolas Meziere
Map citation: Clausnitzer, V., K.-D.B. Dijkstra, R. Koch, J.-P. Boudot, W.R.T. Darwall, J. Kipping, B. Samraoui, M.J. Samways, J.P. Simaika & F. Suhling, 2012. Focus on African Freshwaters: hotspots of dragonfly diversity and conservation concern. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 10: 129-134.
Citation: Dijkstra, K.-D.B (editor). African Dragonflies and Damselflies Online. http://addo.adu.org.za/ [2024-10-31].
