MODE OF OYIPOSITION OF CERTAIN 

 SPECIES OF ODONATA. 



The female of Libellula, when laying eggs hovers over 

 the snrface of the water, and, coming in close proximity of 

 the same, balances herself by the very rapid motion of the 

 wings, curves her body downward, and dips the ti^i of her 

 abdomen into the water at short intervals, and at the same 

 time deposits from twenty-five to forty eggs, which are 

 surrounded by an invisible glutinous substance secreted at 

 oviposition, by means of which they adhere to aquatic 

 plants, sticks, stones, or any other object they may come 

 in contact with at the bottom of the water. In order to 

 ascertain the number of eggs laid each time the female 

 Libellula dips her abdomen into the water, I captured at 

 diiferent times several specimens of Libellula auripennis 

 and L. pulchella in act of ovipositing and held together 

 their fore wings, allowing the hind wings to remain free 

 and in action while I dipped the tips of their abdomens 

 into a small vial filled with water, and invariably at each 

 dip about the same number of eggs were deposited as 

 alluded to above. This experiment I repeated until the 

 supply of eggs of my specimens for the time being was 

 exhausted, and the results were always the same. As re- 

 gards my observations of Libellula, they agree with those 

 made by Siebold. (Germ. Zeit. Ent. II., page 42L) The 

 male of Libellula, as is stated by Siebold, retains its hold 

 to the female and directs her movements while oviposit- 

 ing. Miiller (Ent. M. Mag., VIIL, page 127) confirms 

 the assertions made by Siebold. Although I have seen 

 scores of L. pulchella, L. auripennis, L. semifascia, and 



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