94 CONNECTICUT GEOL. AND NAT. HIST. SURVEY [Bull. 



surface of ponds and alighting on lily pads or other plants. It is 

 reported that the eggs are laid in plants above the surface of the 

 water. 



Genus Lestes Leach 



The nymphs are characterized by the form of the labial palpus, 

 which is represented in Fig. 7, No. 4, and by the figuration of the 

 gills (PI. I, Figs. 1-6). They are extremely active insects when 

 disturbed, but usually remain quiet and are hidden perfectly by 

 form and color when in their natural environment. 



The adults of the genus comprise mostly dull-colored species of 

 elongate form and retiring habit. They are found frequently 

 along the edges of woodland pools where they are inconspicuous 

 because of their protective coloration. The wings of the adult 

 possess numerous pentagonal and some hexagonal cells ; and Mj 

 always arises several cells beyond the subnodus. 



For literature on the adults of Lestes, see: 

 Selys, E. de. Revue d'Odonata, 1850, page 146. 



Bulletin de I'Academie royale . . . de Belgique, 16: 210: 1862. 



Also general works of Calvert (1893); Howe (1917) ; Garman (1917) J 

 Kellicott (1899); Williamson (1900). 



For literature dealing with nymphs, see : 

 Garman, P. Bulletin of the Illinois State Laboratory of Natural History, 



XH: 477-499: 1917- 

 Howe, R. H. Memoirs of the Thoreau Museum of Natural History, H : 



107-109: 1921. 

 Needham, J. G. New York State Museum Bulletin 68: 228-236: 1903. 

 Walker, E. M. Canadian Entomologist, 46: 189-200, 349-350: 1914, Plates 



13, 14, 23. 



Key to Species 

 Nymphs 



1. Distal segment of the labial palpus with three setae ; labium broad 



at the proximal end, the contracted portion of the median lobe 

 hardly longer than the expanded portion and about one-third as 



broad congener 



Distal segment of the labial palpus with only two setae or rarely 

 three (uncatus) ; labium narrow at the proximal end, the con- 

 tracted portion much longer than the expanded portion and less 

 than one-third the width of the latter 2 



2. Lateral gills tapering to sharp points ; venter of abdomen without 



a median row of black spots 3 



Lateral gills not sharply pointed; venter of abdomen usually with 

 a median row of black spots 4 



3. Ovipositor of female extending beyond the proximal segment of 



the gills; lateral gills not; distal segment of the palpus with 



three setae uncatus 



Ovipositor of female not extending beyond the proximal segment 

 of the gills ; distal segment of the palpus with two setae 



unguiculatus 



4. Lateral keels of segments 1-9 or 2-9 with long apical spines; gills 



about equal in width throughout, not usually narrowed beyond 

 the middle vigilax 



