N 



AQUATIC INSECTS 



fly far from their native ponds and are often seen on road- 

 ways and about villages. They are great hunters for mos- 

 quitoes and swarming midges and mayflies. 



Fig. 164. — I, Young and mature n^^mphs of ^nax 

 Junius, one of the commonest dragonflies; 2, 

 nymph of Gomphus. 



Anax. — The green darners {Anax Junius) ale probably the 

 commonest dragonflies in all parts of the country (Fig. 164). 

 The nymphs live in small ponds among water plants. Well 

 grown ones are grass green with a broken brown stripe through 

 the middle of the back but half grown ones are marked with 

 cross bands of black and white. Fullgrown nymphs are 

 plentiful all through October. They expel water from their 

 respiratory chambers with such force that when they are in a 

 shallow pan of water their spitting and squirting can be heard 

 several feet away (PI. IX). Length of nymph, i to 2 inches. 



219 



