Libellulidae Rambur, 1842

Grand, Daniel, Marinov, Milen, Jourdan, Herve, Cook, Carl, Rouys, Sophie, Mille, Christian & Theuerkauf, Jörn, 2019, Distribution, habitats, phenology and conservation of New Caledonian Odonata, Zootaxa 4640 (1), pp. 1-112 : 73

Family Libellulidae Rambur, 1842

The vast family of Libellulidae is represented in every biogeographic region with the exception of the Antarctic (Kalman et al. 2008). It is also the most diversified family in New Caledonia with 12 genera and 18 species (excluding T. limbata ) representing one third of the New Caledonian Odonata fauna. The large number of libellulid species in New Caledonia, most of which are widespread and none of which are endemic, may be explained by their high vagility and eurytopic habitat tolerance. They prefer standing water in the coastal lowlands, although some species adapt to inland waters including slow flowing streams. Depending on the species, mating takes place in flight or while resting on vegetation. Ovipositing females release their eggs either on contact with the water or above it. Some species flick eggs in water droplets onto rocks and banks just above the water surface using a special scoop at the tip of the abdomen.