KEY TO THE FAMILIES OF THE ORDER ODONATA 



la Hind wings wider than front wings near base. When at rest 

 wings extended on either side at right angles to the body. 

 Strong flyers. (Dragon-flies, suborder Anisoptera .) Figs. SI, 

 71 and 72 3 



Fig. 67. Cellthemls 

 eponlna Drury 



V/lngs yellowish, marked 

 with brov/n. Face yellow; 

 thorax brovm with black- 

 ish stripes; abdomen 

 black, streaked with yel- 

 low. Length 40 mm. Ex- 

 panse 70 mm. 



The Dragon-files are 

 much more sturdily built 

 than the bamsel-flles 

 and will average consid- 

 erably larger. Large 

 dam.s el -files, however, 

 are larger than some 

 small species of dragon- 

 files. The dragon-files 

 are strong flyers and some species fly at considerable height 

 and ".Ith great speed. i''eeding, mating, ef':g-laylng, - In fact 

 m.ost of their daylight life - is spent on the wing. At night 

 they roost in tall grasses, shr^-bs and v.'eeds, and may be easily 

 collected. They are quick to detect m^ovements. When one strikes 

 at them with a net and m.isses they frequently return to see v/hat 

 it i.-as all about with the result that many a fine specimien graces 

 a collection that v.^ould not otherwise be there. 

 1b Front Snd hind wings similar in size and shape. When at 

 rest wings folded together edge up, parallel to the body. 

 Feeble flyers. (Damsel-flies, sub-order Zygoptera ) Figs. 68, 

 69 and 70 ? 



W 



r igure 



Fic^. 



Hetaerlna americana (Fabr. 



rigijre G- 



The Co;^^r:On Ruby Spot. 



Thorax bronze; abdomen greenish 

 bronze. Spots at base of -Ings ruby- 

 red in male; amber-yellov/ in female. 

 Length 44 mm. Expanse 58^mn:. 



The Dam.sel-flies seem, to live a life 

 of leisure as compared to the hustling 

 dragon-flies. They are for the most 

 part low, feeble flyers. The nymphs, as 

 with the dragon-files, live in v/ater and 

 are predacious . Damsel-fly nymphs may 

 be recognized by the three leaf-like 

 tracheal gills at the posterior end of 

 the body. 



50 



