Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Pantala

Pantala is a genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae commonly called the rainpool gliders. They are found almost worldwide. Species of Pantala are medium-sized to large, dull orange-yellow dragonflies.

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Jul 18, 2026
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Pantala
Pantala hymenaea
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Clade: Pancrustacea
Class: Insecta
Order: Odonata
Infraorder: Anisoptera
Superfamily: Libelluloidea
Family: Libellulidae
Subfamily: Trameinae
Tribe: Trameini
Genus: Pantala
Hagen, 18611

Pantala is a genus of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae2 commonly called the rainpool gliders. They are found almost worldwide.3 Species of Pantala are medium-sized to large, dull orange-yellow dragonflies.4

Etymology

The genus name Pantala is derived from the Greek πάντες (pantes, "all") and ἄλη (alē, "wandering" or "roaming"), referring to its widespread distribution and vagrant behaviour.15

Species

The genus Pantala includes the following species:6

Male Female Scientific name Common name Distribution
Pantala flavescens (Fabricius, 1798) Wandering Glider7 Cosmopolitan
Pantala hymenaea (Say, 1840) Spot-winged Glider7 North, Central and South America
References

References

  1. Hagen, H.A. (1861). Synopsis of the Neuroptera of North America with a List of the South American Species. Washington: Smithsonian Institution. pp. 347 [141]. doi:10.5962/bhl.title.1715 – via Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  2. "Genus Pantala Hagen, 1861". Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. 2012. Retrieved 27 February 2017.
  3. Watson, J.A.L.; Theischinger, G.; Abbey, H.M. (1991). The Australian Dragonflies: A Guide to the Identification, Distributions and Habitats of Australian Odonata. Melbourne: CSIRO. p. 278. ISBN 0643051368.
  4. Theischinger, Günther; Hawking, John (2006). The Complete Field Guide to Dragonflies of Australia. Collingwood, Victoria, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. p. 294. ISBN 978-0-64309-073-6.
  5. Endersby, Ian; Fliedner, Heinrich (2015). The Naming of Australia's Dragonflies. Eltham, Victoria, Australia: Busybird Publishing. ISBN 9781925260625.
  6. Paulson, D.; Schorr, M.; Abbott, J.; Bota-Sierra, C.; Deliry, C.; Dijkstra, K.-D.; Lozano, F. "World Odonata List". OdonataCentral. University of Alabama. Retrieved 13 April 2026.
  7. "North American Odonata". University of Puget Sound. 2009. Retrieved 5 August 2010.
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  • Data related to Pantala at Wikispecies