Philogenia is a genus of damselflies in the family Philogeniidae. Species of the genus are found in tropical Central and South America, and inhabit forest streams.
Description
Species of the genus Philogenia are medium-sized to large damselflies that inhabit forest streams. Adults are usually dark in colour with yellow, blue or green markings and typically perch with their wings held open. The wings are long and narrow, often clear but sometimes darkened towards the tips, and have a distinctive fine network of veins near the outer margins.
Taxonomy The genus Philogenia was erected by Edmond de Sélys Longchamps in 1862. It was historically included within the family Megapodagrionidae and later formed the basis of the tribe Philogeniini established by Janis Rácenis in 1959. Molecular studies subsequently showed that Philogenia and Archaeopodagrion form a distinct lineage of damselflies, now recognised as the family Philogeniidae.
Species The following species are currently placed in Philogenia:
Philogenia augusti Calvert, 1924 Philogenia berenice Higgins, 1901 Philogenia boliviana Bick & Bick, 1988 Philogenia buenavista Bick & Bick, 1988 Philogenia carrillica Calvert, 1907 Philogenia cassandra Hagen in Selys, 1862 Philogenia championi Calvert, 1901 Philogenia compressa Dunkle, 1990 Philogenia cristalina Calvert, 1924 Philogenia ebona Dunkle, 1986 Philogenia elisabeta Calvert, 1924 Philogenia expansa Calvert, 1924 Philogenia ferox Rácenis, 1959 Philogenia gaiae Vilela & Cordero-Rivera, 2019 Philogenia helena Hagen, 1869 Philogenia iquita Dunkle, 1990 Philogenia lankesteri Calvert, 1924 Philogenia leonora Westfall & Cumming, 1956 Philogenia macuma Dunkle, 1986 Philogenia mangosisa Bick & Bick, 1988 Philogenia margarita Selys, 1862 Philogenia marinasilva Machado, 2010 Philogenia martae Bota-Sierra, 2017 Philogenia minteri Dunkle, 1986 Philogenia monotis (Kennedy, 1941) Philogenia nemesioi Machado, 2013 Philogenia peacocki Brooks, 1989 Philogenia peruviana Bick & Bick, 1988 Philogenia polyxena Calvert, 1924 Philogenia raphaella Selys, 1886 Philogenia realpei Cano-Cobos & Bota-Sierra, 2023 Philogenia redunca Cook, 1989 Philogenia schmidti Ris, 1918 Philogenia silvarum Ris, 1918 Philogenia strigilis Donnelly, 1989 Philogenia sucra Dunkle, 1986 Philogenia terraba Calvert, 1907 Philogenia umbrosa Ris, 1918 Philogenia zeteki Westfall & Cumming, 1956
Etymology The genus name Philogenia is probably derived from the Greek φίλος (philos, "loving", "fond of" or "friend") and γένος (genos, "kind", "race" or "lineage"). Sélys did not explain the derivation and its intended meaning remains uncertain.
See also Philogeniidae
References