Plathemis

Plathemis is a small genus of dragonflies in the family Libellulidae. It has been considered a synonym of Libellula, subgenus, or separate genus by different authorities. Recent phylogenetic analysis has supported its status as either a subgenus or a full genus.^[1][2]

Plathemis
Immature male common whitetail (Plathemis lydia)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Odonata
Infraorder:	Anisoptera
Family:	Libellulidae
Genus:	Plathemis Hagen, 1861

Species

It contains two species:

Male	Female	Scientific name	Common Name	Distribution
		Plathemis lydia (Drury, 1770)	common whitetail or long-tailed skimmer	North America
		Plathemis subornata (Hagen, 1861)	desert whitetail	United States (Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Kansas, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington.), Mexico