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 Major Groups | Insecta (insects) | Odonata (dragonflies, damselflies) | Coenagrionidae
 

Coenagrionidae

Major Group: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Family: Coenagrionidae

Descriptive Features:

  • premental ligula more or less strongly protruding medially, without median cleft
  • 3-8 pairs of premental setae
  • 3-8 palpal setae
  • postocular lobes from widely rounded to strongly produced
  • abdominal segments with or without lateral spines
  • caudal gills held vertically, leaf-like, subnodate or denodate, with apex rounded or pointed, dorsal and ventral edge with spines restricted to basal 2/3 or less
  • Total length: 12.0 - 30.0 mm

    • Taxonomic Checklist: Genera
    Aciagrion
    Agriocnemis
    Archibasis     (larva unknown)
    Argiocnemis
    Austroagrion
    Austrocnemis
    Caliagrion
    Ceriagrion
    Coenagrion
    Ischnura
    Pseudagrion
    Teinobasis
    Xanthagrion

    Distribution: Australia wide

    Sensitivity Rating: SIGNAL grade 2. Ischnura heterosticta is believed to be salt tolerant.

    Functional Feeding Group: predators

    Ecology: Adults are commonly known as 'pond damsels'.
    Instream habitat: Coenagrionid nymphs occur in streams, rivers, riverine pools, lakes, boggy seepages, ponds and swamps, including temporary ponds. They can be found amongst submerged vegetation, such as willow roots and reeds.
    Feeding ecology: Nymphs are predators.
    Habit: Coenagrionid nymphs cling onto submerged vegetation and some species are territorial. They appear to defend hunting grounds. Many coenagrionid adults are vagrants.
    Life history: Females lay their eggs in plant tissue. Austrocnemis lands on the edge of a water lily leaf and inserts her ovipositor into the underside of the leaf. Opportunistic species, such as Ischnura aurora, have life spans as short as eight to ten weeks. A short life span allow them to survive even when temporary ponds dry up after a couple of weeks.
     
     
    Information Sources: Theischinger & Endersby 2009, Hawking & Theischinger 1999, Houston 1988, Theischinger & Hawking 2006
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