1898.] ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS. 7 



IOWAN ODONATA. 



By MORTON J. ELROD, University of Montana. 



For several years the writer lias been permitted to spend the 

 month of July in Des Moines, Iowa. At intervals when other 

 duties could be laid aside rambles were taken along the Des 

 Moines and Raccoon Rivers in search of specimens. At this 

 season of the year the water in these rivers is usually clear and 

 shallow. As a consequence many species of fine Unios were 

 secured. Lepidoptera and Odonata were the only insects sought. 

 As no previous record has been made of collections of dragon- 

 flies from this locality, the publication of the following list of 28 

 species, which by no means represents the Odonate fauna of the 

 State, may be useful, and may serve those students of the State 

 who are working upon this group of insects. Of this list at 

 least 16 have not before been recorded from Iowa, though they 

 are in some cases reported from adjoining States. It is also to 

 be noted that many common forms, e. g. , R. civile, are absent 

 from the list. Other collectors may later report these, or at least 

 some of them, from the State. 



It may be appropriate to add that all the species mentioned in 

 the list are in the writer's collection. Specimens reported from 

 Clinton and Sabula were collected by J. S. Faaborg, 



[I have taken the liberty to add to Prof. Elrod's notes records 

 of a few species of Odonata collected for me, in 1889, by Miss 

 Alda M. Sharp, of Gladbrook, Iowa, who labeled them " Tama 

 Co., Iowa ' Such additions are enclosed in brackets. Philip 

 P. Calvert.] 



i. Calopteryx maculata Beam. 



In July, 1893, this species was quite abundant along a small 

 rivulet a half mile north of Drake University. It was in a 

 wooded, hilly region that had not as yet been much used for 

 pasture. The season was rainy, and every other day I visited 

 the place, securing each time quite a number. In 1894 the season 

 was quite the opposite of that of 1893, and the ravine had dried 

 up. In 1895 I did not visit the place. In 1896 it was overrun 

 with stock, and no macnlata could be found. During the month 

 of July, 1897, I secured a dozen or more at Dunreath, Iowa, 

 some thirty miles from Des Moines. 



[One $ June 21, one 9 June 28 "on blackberry bushes in 



