Macromiidae: The Cruisers
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Their habit of cruising up and down roads and rivers explains the common name for dragonflies in the family Macromiidae, commonly called cruisers.
Nine species divided into two genera fly around the United States.
Genus Didymops
- Florida Cruiser (Didymops floridensis)
- Stream Cruiser (Didymops transversa)
Genus Macromia
- Allegheny River Cruiser: (Didymops alleghaniensis)
- Bronzed River Cruiser: (Didymops annulata)
- Swift River Cruiser: (Didymops illinoiensis)
- Western River Cruiser: (Didymops magnifica)
- Mountain River Cruiser: (Didymops margarita)
- Royal River Cruiser: (Didymops taeniolata)
- Gilded River Cruiser: (Didymops pacifica)
As their names suggest, most have a very limited range. The Florida Cruiser, for example, inhabits river areas of Florida, southern Georgia and southern Alabama.
Most cruiser species are characterized by dark, thin bodies, with stripes. Some species also look like they have a clubtail. The thorax is dark with one white stripe.
Most species have green eyes that almost touch in the middle of the head.
Some experts still consider them a subfamily of the emerald dragonflies, family Corduliidae.
© 2007-2011. Patricia A. Michaels