Lestoidea

The Lestidae are a rather small family of cosmopolitan, large-sized, slender damselflies, known commonly as the spreadwings or spread-winged damselflies.

Hemiphlebia, commonly known as the ancient greenling, is a genus of damselfly, containing only one species Hemiphlebia mirabilis and is the only living genus in the family Hemiphlebiidae. It is very small with a long, metallic-green body and clear wings. It is endemic to south-eastern Australia. Its natural swamp habitat is threatened by habitat loss. The oldest representatives of the family date to the Late Jurassic.

The Synlestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as sylphs or malachites. They occur in Sub-Saharan Africa, Australia, Asia and the island of Hispaniola in the Caribbean.

The Perilestidae are a family of damselflies commonly known as shortwings and twigtails. It is a small family of around 19 species. All extant species are native to the Neotropical realm. In the past Nubiolestes of Africa was included in this family, but this is doubted. Palaeoperilestes electronicus is an extinct species described from mid-Cretaceous Burmese amber.

superfamily of damselflies

Perissolestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Perilestidae. There are about 12 described species in Perissolestes.

Perilestes is a genus of damselflies in the family Perilestidae. There are about eight described species in Perilestes.

Hemiphlebiidae is a family of damselflies. It contains only one extant species, the ancient greenling, native to south-eastern Australia and Tasmania. The fossil record of the group extends back to the Late Jurassic, making them the oldest known crown group damselflies.