FIELD BOOK OF INSECTS. 



"lest one good custom should corrupt the world," and 

 these insects molt after they have obtained functional 

 wings. The adult form is now reached and thousands 

 may join in a joyous dance which often leads to an heirless 

 death, if near human habitations, for they seem unable to 

 resist the attraction of bright lights. Even under normal 

 conditions some species dance a part of a night, mate, 

 lay eggs, and die before morning. Fish eagerly devour 

 the adults which fall on the water; and a favorite dry-fly, 

 "gray drake," of fishermen is made in imitation of these 

 insects. Plate VIII shows a typical form, Ephemera 

 varia, but some species have much smaller hind wings or 

 even none. The males have much larger compound eyes 

 than have the females. There are about a hundred 

 species in eastern United States, the identification of 

 which is rather difficult. The ambitious student is 

 referred to Bulletin 86 of the New York State Museum. 



ODONATA 



The Dragon- and Damsel-flies have been called " Devil's 

 Darning-needles" and accused of sewing up the ears of 

 bad boys; "Snake-doctors" or "Snake-feeders" on the 

 theory that they administered to the needs of reptiles; 

 and "Horse-stingers" on the equally mistaken notion 

 that they sting since no human had ever been stung, 

 horses must have been. As a matter of fact, they are 

 dangerous only to other insects, but since Odonata.have 

 relatively strong biting jaws, the larger species may give 

 you a gentle nip if you put your finger in their mouth. 

 All members of this order live in water until they get wings 

 and the aquatic young catch their prey in a very different 

 manner from that practised by the aerial adults. The 

 flying "dragon" darts back and forth with swift, well- 

 controlled motions, scooping up its game in a "basket" 

 formed by its six extended legs and the front of its thorax; 

 the young, however, are sluggish and lie in wait for the 

 unwary. When their chance comes, a curious thing 

 happens: jaws seem to shoot out from the mouth and snap 

 up the victim. Really, it is a jointed lower lip which is 

 extended', and the "jaws" are hooks on its end (see Plate 



42 



