Synlestidae Explained

The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies^{[1] [2]} commonly known as sylphs or malachites.^[3] They occur in South Africa, Australia, and South America.^[4]

Description

These damselflies are 21 to 36 millimeters long, with slender abdomens.^[3] Species are generally metallic green to brown-tinged black in color.^[5]

Biology

Damselflies of this family are predators. The nymphs live in rivers and streams, and can be found in stagnant pools during the dry season.^[3]

Systematics

There are nine extant genera. There are also several extinct genera known from fossils.^[4]

Genera include:

• Chlorolestes
• Ecchlorolestes
• Episynlestes
• Megalestes
• Nubiolestes
• Phylolestes
• Sinolestes
• Synlestes

Notes and References

1. Web site: Family SYNLESTIDAE. 2014. Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 1 April 2017.
2. Dijkstra. K.D.B.. etal. 2013. The classification and diversity of dragonflies and damselflies (Odonata). In: Zhang, Z.-Q. (Ed.) Animal Biodiversity: An Outline of Higher-level Classification and Survey of Taxonomic Richness (Addenda 2013). Zootaxa. 3703. 1. 36–45. 10.11646/zootaxa.3703.1.9. 10072/61365. free.
3. http://www.mdfrc.org.au/bugguide/display.asp?type=5&class=17&subclass=&Order=5&family=96&couplet=0 Synlestidae.
4. Vasilenko, D. V. (2005). New damselflies (Odonata: Synlestidae, Hemiphlebiidae) from the Mesozoic Transbaikalian locality of Chernovskie Kopi. Paleontologicheskii Zhurnal 39(3), 280-83.
5. http://anic.ento.csiro.au/insectfamilies/biota_details.aspx?OrderID=24130&BiotaID=24230&PageID=families Synlestidae.