252 



THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Blanchard. Not knowing its identity with Nototaphra lauta,Cas. (1893), 

 I had redescribed it in my "Kritisches Verzeichniss" (1894, p. 74 and 

 2o6)under the name of Myrmoecia picta. In comparing it with our European 

 Myrmceria plicata, Er., and Fuss/, Kr., I found not the slightest generic 

 difference. Also, Casey's description of Nototaphra coincides with that 

 of Myrmcecia, Rey. Even the sexual differences— the males bearing large 

 tubercles on certain dorsal segments of the abdomen, a very characteristic 

 mark of Myrm<eaa—a.re also present in Nototaphra. Therefore, Notota- 

 phra, Cas., is a synonym of Myrmcecia, Rey., and my Myrmcecia picta 

 must bear the name Myrmcecia lauta, Casey. 



Also, some other new genera of Staphylinidre described by Mr. Casey 

 may prove to be identical with older European genera by and by. In 

 faunas of so near a relation as the palearctic and nearctic, it is 

 very difficult indeed to find out all generic affinity immediately 3 

 this is no reproach, therefore, to Mr. Casey's study. A good many of his 

 new genera will prove really distinct from our European forms. 



THE LIFE HISTORY OF NANNOTHEMIS BELLA, UHLER. 



BY R. WE1TH AND J. G. NEEDHAM. 



i. Field Observations on the Habits of the Species, by R.Weith. 



Naiinothcmis bella, Uhl, is one of the smallest of dragon-flies. Of 

 its life-history we have had no knowledge up to the present time. Until 

 the publication ofWilliamson's Catalogue of the Dragon-flies of Indiana, 

 last year, it was recorded only from our north-east Atlantic seaboard. I 

 have frequently met with it in Elkhart and St. Joe Counties, the two 

 northermost counties in Indiana ; but, what has been most perplexing to 

 me, only in a few very restricted areas, these areas not exceeding 50 

 yards in length by 25 yards in width from margin of lake; The only 

 places I have met with it are at Simonton Lake, a distance of four and 

 one-half miles from the City of Elkhart, Indiana, and Indiana and Bald- 

 win Lakes, thirteen miles north-east of Elkhart, on the boundary line that 

 divides Indiana from Michigan. In the latter place, on a smaller area 

 than at Simonton Lake, the imago is very numerous. Frequent 

 endeavors to find the species at other places where similar conditions 

 prevail proved unsuccessful. 



