Stream Cruiser

Didymops transversa, a dragonfly in the family Macromiidae, accepting its new and strange terrestrial world just moments after hatching. I used the larval exuvium (the shell or shuck it hatched out of) to key out this specimen to the genus.

comments (10)

travismorhardt

Lion

Some information on this specie:
http://wiatri.net/inventory/odonata/SpeciesAccounts/SpeciesDetail.cfm?TaxaID=127
Posted 11 years ago

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Species record created manually. What an odd-looking dragonfly, great find! Posted 11 years ago
1. travismorhardt
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you much, Ferdy! And yes, there are only two genera of dragonflies in this family here in the states. I had never encountered this one before. Posted 11 years ago
2. travismorhardt
  
  Lion
  
  Ferdy, I noticed that this species was listed under the family Coridulidae, but it is actually a member of the family Macromiidae. Just wanted to point that out :) Posted 11 years ago
3. 1. Ferdy Christant
    
    Lion
    
    Thanks, I'm fine with either value, but EOL shows this:
    
    http://eol.org/pages/254564/names
    
    Note the " Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life: April 2013" hierarchy, which is the dominant one in use on this site, or better said, on Wikipedia.
    
    Which source do you use to think of the other family? Posted 11 years ago
  2. 1. travismorhardt
      
      Lion
      
      Well, from the same link you posted above, the NCBI shows that it resides in the family Macromiidae. But the ITIS shows that it is of the subfamily Macromiinae under the family Corduliidae, which I have never heard of. The link that I provided for information on the species also shows the family to be Macromiidae, and I also keyed it out to Macromiidae using my own text source, An Introduction to the Aquatic Insects of North America (Merritt et al 2008). I had just noticed it and was thinking about the integrity of JD about species identification. If you are fine with it, I am too! Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago
    2. 1. Ferdy Christant
        
        Lion
        
        It's a fair point, Travis. Since JungleDragon places species in a "tree", it has to decide a tree type. Since most species info come from Wikipedia, where ITIS is used heavily, ITIS is what JungleDragon uses. I can't place species into multiple classifications or randomly mix and match them, hence this design. Also note that I am limiting classification to 6 main levels, so things like subfamily, super genus, etc do not exist on JungleDragon.
        
        This does come at the cost of scientific accuracy and integrity as you suggest, but there is a thought behind it. Have another look at that link and note how a single species is placed in 3 classifications. And that's not even a standard, some species are in way more classifications. Also note how each classification is tree has many more nodes than JungleDragon has, made of names not usable by non-scientists. And worse, for many species scientists cannot even agree on the classification within a single classification system.
        
        The thought behind classification on JungleDragon is to provide a user friendly way to navigate the tree of life. To find related species to the one you're currently viewing, things like that. I want that tree to be accurate (within reason), after all ITIS is not "wrong", but above all I want it to be usable. And the way I see it, those two things are mutually exclusive. It's either user-friendly and somewhat accurate, or totally accurate and not usable.
        
        Anyway, I just wanted to explain the thoughts behind it, as it is a very good question you're asking. Deep down I'm actually quite disappointed that science cannot even come up with a single system that works.
        
        Posted 11 years ago, modified 11 years ago

Joost Thissen

Lion

Magnificent capture. Great insect and perfect timing. Posted 11 years ago
1. travismorhardt
  
  Lion
  
  Thank you very much, Joost! Posted 11 years ago

travismorhardt

Lion

Thank you for explaining that, Ferdy! I now understand a little better about what goes on behind the identification process on JungleDragon. Thanks for clearing that up with me :) Posted 11 years ago

The Stream Cruiser

The brown Stream Cruiser can be recognized by its coloration and male cruising behavior along shores. The thorax has a single yellow stripe on each side. The yellow face has two black stripes across it. The eyes change from brown to green as the dragonfly matures. Each wing has a small brown spot at the base. The male abdomen is clubbed and bears distinctive yellow cerci (appendages at end of the abdomen).

Info 2 0

Similar species: Dragonflies And Damselflies

Species identified by Ferdy Christant