Pseudostigmatinae
| Pseudostigmatinae | |
|---|---|
| Female Megaloprepus caerulatus in Costa Rica | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Odonata |
| Suborder: | Zygoptera |
| Family: | Coenagrionidae |
| Subfamily: | Pseudostigmatinae Tillyard, 1917 |
| Genera | |
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The Pseudostigmatinae are a subfamily of tropical damselflies belonging to the family Coenagrionidae, known as helicopter damselflies, giant damselflies, or forest giants. The subfamily includes the largest of all damselfly species. They specialize in preying on web-building spiders, and breed in phytotelmata, the small bodies of water held by plants such as bromeliads.
This group of damselflies was previously placed in the family Pseudostigmatidae, however, molecular studies have found evidence that this monophyletic group is actually a clade within the family Coenagrionidae.