Macromiidae

The insect family Macromiidae contains the dragonfly

Dragonfly

A dragonfly is a winged insect belonging to the order Odonata, the suborder Epiprocta or, in the strict sense, the infraorder Anisoptera . It is characterized by large multifaceted eyes, two pairs of strong transparent wings, and an elongated body...

 species known as cruisers or skimmers. They tend to fly over bodies of water (and roads) straight down the middle. They are similar to Aeshnidae

Aeshnidae

The hawkers include the largest dragonflies found in North America and Europe, and are among the largest of the dragonflies on the planet...

 in size, but the eyes are green and just barely meet at the top of the head.

Macromiidae has been traditionally considered as a subfamily of Corduliidae

Corduliidae

The insect family Corduliidae contains the emerald dragonflies or green-eyed skimmers. These dragonflies are usually black or dark brown with areas of metallic green or yellow, and most of them have large, emerald-green eyes...

. It contains three genera and 125 species worldwide.

Females of this family lack an ovipositor

Ovipositor

The ovipositor is an organ used by some animals for oviposition, i.e., the laying of eggs. It consists of a maximum of three pairs of appendages formed to transmit the egg, to prepare a place for it, and to place it properly...

 at the end of the abdomen and lay their eggs by dipping the abdomen in the water as they fly over. Ovipositing is usually done without a male.

Naiad

Naiad

In Greek mythology, the Naiads or Naiades were a type of nymph who presided over fountains, wells, springs, streams, and brooks....

s are found in rivers, streams, and lakes where there is water movement. They crawl in debris at the water's bottom and wait for prey.