Libellula

These are bright dragonflies.

They have colorful bodies. Some are red or orange. Their wings can have patterns.

They live near water. They like to sit on sticks.

Baby dragonflies live in the water. They live in the mud.

The moms lay eggs in the water. The eggs hatch into babies.

Some males are very bossy. They fight for a spot. They want a sunny place. They protect their home.

Many live in North America. One kind lives in South America. They are great hunters. They catch their food fast.

These insects are very cool to see.

Libellula are a group of dragonflies.

People call them chasers or skimmers. Most live in the Northern Hemisphere. Many have bright bodies and patterned wings.

Their faces can be many colors. They might be red, yellow, or black. Some males have a dusty coating on them.

These dragonflies live near water. They often sit on branches or reeds. The babies, called nymphs, live in the water.

They like muddy bottoms in slow water. Nymphs are great hunters. They use their jaws to catch prey.

Adult females lay eggs in the water. The eggs hatch into nymphs. Adult males can be very bossy. They defend sunny spots to find mates. They may even attack other males.

There are 28 species in this group. Some are in danger of dying out. For example, the Libellula angelina is critically endangered. This means it is at very high risk. Many other kinds live in North America. One kind, the Hercules Skimmer, lives in South America.

Libellula is a group of dragonflies known as chasers or skimmers.

These insects are mostly found in the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. They are medium to large in size and often look very bright. Many species have colorful bodies and patterned wings. Their faces can be white, yellow, red, brown, or black. Some males even have a dusty coating on their bodies when they are mature.

The life of a Libellula begins in the water. Adult females lay their eggs directly into bodies of water. These eggs hatch into aquatic nymphs that live in the muddy bottoms of still or slow water.

These nymphs are very strong hunters. They use their jaws and special parts called labium and labial palpi to catch prey. In water without fish, these dragonflies are often the top predators. As they grow, they may even compete with or eat other nymphs.

Adult dragonflies have very different lives than their watery youth. They are often found near water perching on branches or reeds. Males can be very aggressive and territorial. They defend sunny spots that do not have much plant growth on the surface. They do this to protect the best places for breeding. Males will often attack other males to keep them away. This behavior happens because there are more males than females in their groups.

Scientists have studied these insects for a long time. The name Libellula comes from the Latin word libella. This means a carpenter's level. It describes how the insect can stay level while hovering. One important species is Libellula depressa. It was named by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Later, William Forsell Kirby named it the type species in 1889. There are 28 accepted species in this group today.

It is important to know that some of these dragonflies are in trouble.

Out of the 28 species, five are on the IUCN Red List as threatened. For example, Libellula angelina is critically endangered. Libellula coahuiltecana is endangered, and Libellula jesseana is vulnerable. Two others, Libellula mariae and Libellula pontica, are near threatened. Most species live in North America, but the Hercules Skimmer lives across much of South America.

The genus *Libellula* consists of medium to large dragonflies known as chasers or skimmers.

These insects belong to the family Libellulidae and are found throughout the temperate zones of the Northern Hemisphere. They are important members of their ecosystems because they act as efficient predators. Many species in this group are known for their showy wing patterns and bright colors. Their bodies can appear in shades of light yellow, orange, red, or brown. Adult males often develop a glaucous or pruinose coating, which is a dusty-looking layer, when they reach maturity.

Identifying a *Libellula* dragonfly can be difficult because many species show individual variations. However, scientists use four specific synapomorphies, or shared derived traits, to define the genus. Two of these traits involve the specific patterns of wing venation, which are the vein-like structures in the wings. The other two traits include a wide abdomen and a characteristic brown area at the base of the forewing. Their faces may vary in color, appearing white, yellow, red, brown, or black. Their wings may feature yellow, orange, or brown patterns, or they may be completely clear.

The life cycle of *Libellula* begins in the water. Adult females lay their eggs directly into water bodies. These eggs hatch into aquatic nymphs, which are the immature stage of the dragonfly. These nymphs live exclusively in water, often in the muddy bottoms of still or slow-moving areas. Some species, such as *L. pulchella*, are adaptable enough to live in drinking tanks used for cattle. In the water, these nymphs are highly efficient predators. They use mechanical and visual cues to trigger the release of their developed labium and labial palpi to catch prey. In water bodies that lack fish, these dragonflies often serve as the top predators. In high densities, nymphs may even compete for resources or practice cannibalism on one another.

Once they reach adulthood, *Libellula* dragonflies move to different habitats. They are commonly found near bodies of water, where they perch on branches or reeds. Adult males are often highly territorial and aggressive. They defend specific territories that are ideal for breeding, characterized by plenty of sunlight and a lack of surface vegetation. Males will fly around these areas and attack other males to eliminate mating competition. This aggressive behavior is likely driven by a sex ratio that is biased toward males, meaning there are more males than females in the population.

The history of this genus is tied to early biological classification. The name *Libellula* comes from the Latin word *libella*, meaning a carpenter's level. This name refers to the insect's ability to remain level while hovering. The type species for the genus is *Libellula depressa*, which was described by Carl Linnaeus in 1758. Later, in 1889, William Forsell Kirby designated it as the type species. There has been some scientific debate regarding taxonomy. Some authors previously suggested that the taxa *Ladona* and *Plathemis* were synonyms or subgenera of *Libellula*. While some phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA sequence data supports this, the World Odonata List still treats them as distinct genera.

Today, the World Odonata List accepts 28 species within the genus. Most of this diversity is located in North America, though a few species are endemic to Europe and Asia. One notable exception is *L. herculea*, which has an extensive distribution across South America.

However, many of these insects face significant survival challenges. Of the 28 species, five are currently listed on the IUCN Red List as threatened with extinction. This includes *L. angelina*, which is critically endangered, and *L. coahuiltecana*, which is endangered. The species *L. jesseana* is listed as vulnerable. Additionally, *L. mariae* and *L. pontica* are categorized as near threatened.